The Ireland ConnectionInternational Marketing—Ireland StudentsExperience <strong>NIU</strong> and DeKalbMarketing students are getting a real opportunity to learn theins and outs <strong>of</strong> international marketing. This summer, marketingpr<strong>of</strong>essor Dan Weilbaker prepared and hosted the first<strong>NIU</strong>/Dublin Institute <strong>of</strong> Technology exchange for the marketingsales program. The class, MKTG 490, was designed toexpand the scope <strong>of</strong> sales understanding with an internationalperspective.The first program began with eight students from the DublinInstitute <strong>of</strong> Technology attending a two-week sales class at<strong>NIU</strong>. Although the students were from DIT, only six wereactually from Dublin. The other two were from Germany andSpain. Weilbaker met with the faculty from DIT and designedthe course to <strong>of</strong>fer different perspectives and knowledge fromDIT and <strong>NIU</strong>. The Ireland/U.K. approach to education is verytheoretical and lecture oriented. So, the two-week course at<strong>NIU</strong> is very application oriented, <strong>of</strong>fering a “hands on”approach that the Dublin students have not experienced.“The classroom experience at <strong>NIU</strong> and the style <strong>of</strong> teaching isvery different than what we are used to in Dublin,” explainedLynda Martin, a student in the class. “It is very interactive, andthe simulation is a wonderful learning experience.”The students were very pleased with the program and felt theexperience greatly expanded their understanding andknowledge <strong>of</strong> both different cultures and the world <strong>of</strong> sales.The biggest “culture shock,” they all emphatically agreed—“the size!” “The library is so large, it is the size <strong>of</strong> our totalschool,” they explained. “It is very hard to get around whenthere is so much land and space.”When asked about the mostmemorable experience forthem at <strong>NIU</strong>, there was againunanimous agreement—“Molly’s!” They truly enjoyed theexperience <strong>of</strong> being treated asVIPs in DeKalb. In fact, their lastevening in DeKalb was alreadyplanned at Molly’s—they werethrowing a VIIP night in theirhonor. Yes, VIIP—very importantIrish people!On January 2, 2001, <strong>NIU</strong>students in MKTG 490 will travel to Dublin for an internationallearning experience. A few <strong>of</strong> the things they will experienceinclude a “day in the field” with an Irish sales executive, a tour<strong>of</strong> an Irish call center, and learning about clear and criticalthinking as well as how the Irish do financial analysis.In May 2001, the program <strong>of</strong>fered at <strong>NIU</strong> will be expanded toinclude additional students from <strong>NIU</strong> and other overseasuniversities, bringing in additional cultures to make it a trulyinternational program.Teaching in IrelandIreland has <strong>of</strong>fered an international experience for our facultyas well. During a sabbatical in fall 1998, Nancy Russo,12Exchange students from the Dublin Institute <strong>of</strong> Technologywith Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dan Weilbaker (left) and Dean David Graf(right)associate pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> operations management and informationsystems (OMIS), taught two courses in the Department <strong>of</strong>Accounting, Finance and Information Systems at <strong>University</strong><strong>College</strong> Cork (UCC) in Cork, Ireland. She was a seniorresearcher for the Executive Systems Research Centre as well.Russo said that she got along with the students quite well,once they got used to her accent. “My undergraduatestudents wanted me to feel welcome, so one day they broughttoy guns to shoot each other with during class so it wouldremind me <strong>of</strong> the wild streets <strong>of</strong> Chicago,” she related. “I foundthat the students are used to a somewhat different style <strong>of</strong>learning. Because their courses go for an entire academicyear, they tend to have only lecture for the first half and do alltheir assignments and exams in the second half. They werevery surprised that I expected them to do homework andquizzes during my time with them.”In addition to teaching while at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>College</strong> Cork,Russo helped students prepare resumes for internships withU.S. employers. She was also invited to the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>Limerick to give a guest lecture on web applications develop-Nancy Russo, left, withcolleagues Cathal Casey andSheila Hyde at <strong>University</strong><strong>College</strong> Corkment. One <strong>of</strong> the highlights <strong>of</strong> hervisit was the opportunity to meetthe president <strong>of</strong> Ireland, MaryMcAleese, when she visited UCC.Russo recently returned from theEuropean Conference on Information Systems, where with hercoauthor, Brian Fitzgerald from UCC, she presented a paperbased on a case study that she did while she was in Cork. Thecase study was done at Motorola, Cork, where programmingis done for the cellular switching services.Russo is excited about exploring further exchanges between<strong>NIU</strong> and UCC. “The nature <strong>of</strong> the programs makes it difficultlogistically,” Russo explained. The business informationprogram at UCC begins in the freshmen year and is what wecall a “lockstep” program. Our students and pr<strong>of</strong>essors will getthe opportunity to experience an “Irish flavored” approach toinformation systems, however, as Brian Fitzgerald from UCCwill be joining the OMIS department faculty this summer as aVisiting Research Pr<strong>of</strong>essor.
<strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Business</strong>Staff Organization Chart <strong>2000</strong>-2001Office <strong>of</strong> the DeanDavid GrafAlumniRelationsCoordinatorSue BraffetAccountancyChairGreg CarnesM.B.A. ProgramsDirectorHarold WrightActing AssociateDeanJeff Mercer<strong>Business</strong>ManagerDavid ArtabasyActingFinance ChairRichard Dowen<strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong><strong>Business</strong>Outreach DirectorBrian VollmertUndergraduateStudies DirectorLori MarcellusInformationSystemsDirectorMark MisicManagementChairDan WunschStrategicPlanningand StrategicAllianceDirectorMichelle DeJeanMarketingChairPeter KaminskOperationsManagementand InformationSystems ChairWilliam TallonAdministrativdministrativeChangesJeff Mercer, former chair <strong>of</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong>Finance, moved into the acting associate dean’sposition effective August 16, <strong>2000</strong>. Jeff is serving inthis capacity while Larry Jacobs, former director <strong>of</strong>graduate studies, recuperates from a stroke hesuffered in July. Jacobs was selected as the newassociate dean beginning fall <strong>2000</strong>.Harold Wright, former director <strong>of</strong> Executive M.B.A.,is expanding his area to director <strong>of</strong> M.B.A. programs,which will include both the Executive M.B.A.and M.B.A. programs.Richard Dowen is filling in as acting chair <strong>of</strong> theDepartment <strong>of</strong> Finance.13
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