School of Management Newsletter: June 2018

Accounting master’s degree program takes off

The inaugural meeting of the Master of Science in Professional Accountancy (MS/PAccy) program took place on May 29. The in-class segment of the program begins with summer classes, which are divided into two five-week sessions and one two-week online session; the remaining courses can be completed online during the fall 2018 and/or spring 2019 semester. 

Eighteen students enrolled in the program for Summer 2018. Ten Marist students who earned their bachelor’s degree in accounting last month are enrolled in the full 18 in-class credit hours offered this summer, and another eight students in the Dual Degree program are starting the program by enrolling in only online graduate classes. Students in the Dual Degree program can take online courses during the summer.. 

One of the fastest programs of its kind in the U.S., the MS/PAccy Program’s graduate portion utilizes a combination of traditional classroom coursework, distance learning and an optional internship experience. In as few as seven months, students can earn the additional 30 credit hours needed to reach the 150 credit hours necessary to meet the Certified Public Accountant licensing requirement and receive a graduate degree in accounting

The Dual Degree program offers an additional option to Marist undergraduates. Accounting majors who enroll in the program in their sophomore or junior year can complete both their B.S. and M.S. degrees in accounting in the summer after their senior year. At present, 30 undergraduate students are taking advantage of this option. Follow these links for additional information on the MS/PAccy and Dual Degree accounting programs. 

IN THE PHOTO: Accounting Prof. Megan Burke and School of Management Associate Dean James Phillips (far left), along with accounting program director Prof. J. Donald Warren, Jr. and Dean Lawrence Singleton (far right), welcome the inaugural class in the Master of Science in Professional Accountancy program.

Undergrads make waves with SPLASH

Upwards of 100 middle and high school students from throughout the tristate area attended the third annual Marist SPLASH on April 14.

The seventh- through 12th-graders spent a fun-filled day on campus, taking a tour of the college and attending classes taught by Marist undergraduates. Participants chose classes from an eclectic mix of subjects, ranging from origami and “The Evolving World of Healthcare” to “The Art of Argument.”

The event was planned by a steering committee led by business students Christie Thomas ’20 and Cory Lang ’18. “Organizing SPLASH proved to be a very valuable learning experience for them,” said faculty adviser Prof. Brian Haughey. “They had to focus on business management skills such as logistics, planning, recruitment, marketing, and accounting and collaborate with SPLASH representatives at other universities as well as other Marist constituencies. They were, in effect, learning how to run a not-for-profit business.”

Based on the positive feedback received from attendees, the event was “a tremendous success,” Haughey said. “This is due in large part to the support and collaboration of many Marist departments and personnel, especially Admissions, Student Activities, and Safety and Security.

“And of course, the program could not have taken place without the active engagement of close to 100 student teachers and volunteers.”

Honor organizations swell their ranks

Three of the School of Management’s academic honor societies held induction ceremonies during the spring semester.

Beta Alpha Psi’s Lambda Eta chapter held its induction ceremony on March 25. The honor organization for financial information students and professionals requires student members to maintain a 3.0 GPA, attend the chapter’s professional meetings and participate in community projects. The following student members were inducted:

• Kaitlyn Amoresano ’19
• Meghan Brennan ’18
• Thomas Calder ’19
• Brittany Colatosti ’19
• Amanda Cruise ’19
• Devin De Los Santos ’18
• Emily Ecklund ’20
• Cory Lais ’18
• Meghan LeVasseur ’20
• Kristen Miragliotta ’18
• Alexa Pagano ’19
• Michael Presta ’19
• Alexa Semler ’19
• Courtney Smallze ’18
• Amanda Young ’20

Also inducted was Michael Medley ’90, Managing Director, International Tax, Deloitte Tax LLP and a member of the Dean’s Board of Advisors. He gave a keynote address that stressed the importance of networking and adapting to changing circumstances in business.

Fifteen graduating seniors received Honor Cords to be worn at commencement: 

Meghan BrennanAntonino CriscuoloFrancis D’AngeloDevin De Los SantosMichael DemariaKathryn EldridgeJordan GarofabCarla LocotetaMeghan McQuadeKristin MiragliottaJoshua PennachioJustin PlunkettGrace RitterCourtney SmallzeTara Ventura

2018-2019 Lambda Eta officers also were installed during the ceremony: 

Patrick Quinn ’19 (president); Alyssa Lo Re ’19 (vice president); Hope Brenkert ’19 (reporter); Amanda Young ’20 (treasurer); Emily Ecklund ’20 (secretary); Luke Durante ’20 (VP for new members) and Morgan Handel ’21 (community service chair).

IN THE PHOTO: Alumnus Michael Medley ’90 (far left) joins student BAP inductees at the ceremony

*****

Beta Gamma Sigma Chapter 380 held its induction ceremony on April 29 in the Cabaret. Thomas Murray ’02, a managing director at Goldman Sachs and a member of the Dean’s Board of Advisors, was the chapter honoree and keynote speaker. In his talk, he offered students 14 career tips, such as “do what you love,” “show your grit” and “learn to fail.”

Seniors and co-vice presidents Maura Sullivan and Eddie Campbell, together with President Lawrence Singleton, conducted the ceremony wherein 54 students —along with SOM Professors Robert Zito and Thomas Madden and support staff member Melissa Boutot — were inducted. Faculty advisor Prof. Elizabeth Purinton-Johnson assisted with the ceremony.

IN THE PHOTO: From left: Prof. Elizabeth Purinton-Johnson, Maura Sullivan ’18, Eddie Campbell ’18, Thomas Murray ’02, and Dean Lawrence Singleton

*****

Alpha Mu Alpha, the American Marketing Association’s honor organization, welcomed the following members of the class of 2018 during a May 4 induction ceremony held in the Henry Hudson Room of Fontaine Hall. 

• Janean Marie Curtis
• Lauren Marie Picone
• Barbara Ann Kirwan
• Jessica B. Campbell
• Lindsey Jane Hans
• Anna Marotta
• Kerry Podest
• Kate Elizabeth Paulson
• Amanda Rose
• Giudice Lindsay Lee Milligan
• Samantha Lauro
• Courtney Jane White
• Laura L. Kronbichler
• Heather Skislock
• Allie Clement
• Andrew Rebillard
• Daniela Nicole Forte
• Daniella Inzerilli
• David John Otis
• Elizabeth Brozovich
• Katelyn M. Hargraves
• Sydney Vacca
• Katherine L. Braver
• Kathleen Heaton
• Matthew Onorato
• Megan O'Brien
• Nena Giandomenico
• Owen R. Polzello
• Samantha Farfan
• Sara A. Matthies
• Sean Michael Craig
• Sean Michael Hayden
• Whitney Elyse Kelly

Ethics Team takes first place in prestigious case competition

The Marist College Ethics Team took first place at the International Business Ethics Case Competition held in Boston on April 18-20. 

Comprised of business students Maura Sullivan ’18, Edward Campbell ’18, Sean Durkin ’19, Shannon Gordon ’18 and Barbara Aprilakis ’18, the team took home the first place Emmons Prize in Undergraduate Division I for the competition’s Full Presentation category, beating out stiff competition from colleges including the University of Minnesota (which came in second) and Illinois. 

The Full Presentation category required the team to speak on their chosen topic — which was “Okay, Google, Do the Right Thing” — for 25 minutes. Unlike the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl, this competition “is geared more toward business students,” said Prof. Joanne Gavin, associate dean for undergraduate programs and faculty adviser for the team. “They had to consider ethical, legal and financial aspects of the problem and address them in their solution.” 

Congratulations to the team for their impressive performance.

IN THE PHOTO: From left: Winning Ethics Team members Edward Campbell ’18, Barbara Aprilakis ’18, Maura Sullivan ’18, Shannon Gordon ’18 and Sean Durkin ’19.

Finance team reaches CFA Research Challenge regional finals

Five members of the class of 2018 — finance majors all — proudly represented Marist in the prestigious CFA Institute Research Challenge in Boston on March 20, competing against a field of 250 students from across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America for the title of 2018 Americas Regional Champion. Recent graduates Jon Blake, Steve Morrison, Maura Sullivan, Dietrich Mosel and Cory Lang earned this opportunity by winning the New York Region Challenge on March 2, besting 22 other colleges from the tristate area. The quintet reached the finals of the Americas competition, advancing further than any previous team from Marist. “It was a lot of work, but even more reward,” Blake said.  “We’re proud to have advanced past the New York round to face international competition in Boston.”

The Research Challenge is a global competition that tests the equity research and valuation, investment report writing, and presentation skills of university students. Under the guidance of Prof. Brian Haughey, the team prepared written research reports and oral presentations on Domino’s Pizza. “The caliber of the competition in Boston was very high, including a number of teams comprised of graduate students,” Haughey said. “The CFA Research Challenge is a highly respected competition, and our students’ performance reflected extremely well on Marist.”

Preparing for the competition “gave our group the chance to apply what we had learned in the classroom setting to a real-world problem,” said Lang. “I feel like that is exponentially more valuable when it comes to preparing for the workplace.”

IN THE PHOTO: Left to right: Jon Blake, Steve Morrison, Maura Sullivan, Dietrich Mosel, Cory Lang. All seniors.

Research projects applauded at CURSCA

Five members of Prof. Caroline Rider’s International Trade Management class presented work at CURSCA — the college’s annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity — on April 18.

Joe Palermo ’18, Emily Denny ’18, Karelin Santana ’18, Julia Gerogiannis ’18 and Prateek Samal ’19 all created posters documenting their marketing research on SMEs (small to medium-size enterprises). 

Denny is shown with her poster in the photo below. Entitled “Non-Equity Strategic Alliance as a Mode of Entry into International Business: the United States and the Netherlands,” the subject “gives you a good idea of the framework of the research the students were doing,” says Rider. “Lots of cross-cultural research was necessary. Because both companies had to be SMEs — with no more than 100 employees — personal relationships had to be forged across cultures, plus product adaptation and much more.”

Congratulations to these students and all CURSCA presenters. 

Finance students meet with alumni, travel to G.A.M.E. Forum

Finance Prof. Brian Haughey kept his students busy last semester. “On March 22, I took four seniors — Maura Sullivan, Cory Lang, Mackey D'Addario, and Michaela Murray — to New York City for the G.A.M.E. Forum, a conference for students participating in student-managed funds.” Hosted by Quinnipiac University, the Global Asset Management Education Forum featured keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities.

The following day, Haughey reports, “we hosted a lunch followed by guest speakers Tom Cassin ’81 of J.P. Morgan Chase and a member of the Dean’s Board of Advisors and recent alumnae Megan Callanan ’16 and Samantha Leenas ’17.” 

IN THE PHOTO: Megan Callanan ’16, Prof. Haughey, Samantha Leenas ’17 and Christie Thomas ’20

SOM offices display student artwork

Once again this past semester, Dean Lawrence Singleton and Marist Professor of Art Ed Smith have teamed up to enliven the School of Management’s administrative office with some fine student artwork. For the last several months, “Florentine Landscapes,” a photography series by art and digital media student Eleanor Downie ’18, have been on display in the office.

“The landscapes in the series were taken while I lived in Florence, Italy,” Downie writes in an artist statement. “I focus upon arched doorways and straight lines leading to vanishing points. Each photograph has a sense of depth that draws the viewer in and engages them. There are no typical paths; they all seem to offer a trip into a new, unexplored space.” 

“This exchange is another example of how innovative leaders, like the deans at Marist, are able to develop initiatives that benefit students, faculty and staff from many different areas,” said Smith, a member of the National Academy and director of the Marist Art Gallery. “With the vision of Dean Lawrence Singleton and [School of Communication and the Arts] Dean Carolyn Lepre, we are able to highlight the accomplishments of the hardworking students at Marist. It allows that important dialogue, which is the hallmark of a great liberal arts college, to flourish.”