MBA and BSBA Newsletters
Spring 2019
Alumni in the News
Lindsay Myers, a 2010 graduate of SIUE, visited her first ever trade show as student with her professor, Laura Wolff. The visit was part of a class where Lindsay interned for a company in attendance at the largest pet industry trade show in the U.S., the Global Pet Expo. There, as a student, Lindsay practiced her German speaking skills with potential customers. Lindsay spent her time at SIUE studying business administration and German.
In August of 2018, Laura Wolff got to see her former student in a different light at the International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta, Georgia. Now, Lindsay is a regional sales manager for Schattdecor, a German company that sources designs for the laminate furniture and flooring industries with its own booth at trade shows. The IWF is a top trade show for the wood products industry and Wolff was there to give a talk on how to expand business through exporting. Wolff also presented a workshop for vendors at IWF and later provided training for an industry council on international trade.
Spring 2018
Alumni in the News
Currently an Edwardsville resident, Joseph Smith is familiar with the Edwardsville campus, considering he chose SIUE for his undergraduate and graduate coursework. Joseph graduated with a BS in CMIS in 2005 and an MBA in 2013.
He currently works for Microsoft as a technology strategist with a focus on the financial services industry. In this role, he works with large capital markets, investment banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions. Essentially, he assists in risk reduction, improving operational efficiency, as well as improving collaboration with the use of technology.
When asked if his time at SIUE helped him to pursue his current position, he stated, “Yes, 110 percent. I found that being able to speak foundational business lingo and relate it to IT has helped propel my career.”
Based on Joseph’s interview, you could tell SIUE impacted his life in many positive ways. He described the connections he made as invaluable and learning experiences which have helped his career and future flourish. Along with making long-lasting friendships while attending SIUE, Joseph mentioned professors who made a lifelong impression on him. He discussed the impact each had on shaping his mind in both his undergraduate and graduate studies.
One piece of advice Joseph had to offer was, “Make meaningful connections while you are at SIUE and make sure to foster them throughout your career. You never know when you may need to leverage those relationships or how you can help others down the line.”
Focus on Faculty
Living in a small town in northwest Indiana at the Southern tip of Lake Michigan, Dr. Swanson graduated high school and later attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
With a knack for mathematics, and the encouragement of her father, Dr. Swanson pursued an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering in 1980 after several changes of her academic major. With this shift, she decided to continue her education at Purdue University and obtained her MBA in 1988 and PhD with a concentration in Operations Management in 1995. When Dr. Swanson began her academic journey, she did not intend to pursue a career in academia, but began to take an interest in teaching while working toward her MBA. These accomplishments eventually led to her current position as an Associate Professor. She mentioned, “I really enjoy teaching. It is really exciting to me when a student who has worked hard begins to grasp a difficult topic.”
When asked about interests, Dr. Swanson expressed her enjoyment for traveling, reading, running, sewing and embroidery. She also mentioned her involvement with Cougar sports—especially when she has a student on the team—but enjoys cheering on the Cougars regardless of the sport.
When asked why she feels SIUE stands out from the rest, she stated, “I have always really liked SIUE’s student focus. Faculty take their role as instructors very seriously at SIUE and constantly work to improve their teaching.” She also added the university supports this cause by providing grants and workshops that encourage innovation and improvements to teaching.
Dr. Swanson’s interview beamed with a positive demeanor and sense of gratitude. Her final thoughts were, “I am very thankful for the opportunities that SIUE has given to me and am especially thankful to Dr. David Ault who was the Dean of the School of Business when I was hired. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with some great individuals on the faculty and staff. I have also been able to work with wonderful students who have provided me with lasting memories.”