Letter
from the Dean
Dear Kellogg
School Alumni and Friends,
Nothing
is more essential today than making a positive difference
in the world.
At
the Kellogg School of Management, we honor this important
goal through our academic mission, which is to develop socially
responsible global leaders. We achieve this with a rich
combination of academic rigor, practical relevance and a
culture of inclusion that provides our students with abundant
opportunities to refine and practice their leadership skills
in a collaborative environment.
Students
here have long worked with each other in teams; in fact,
Kellogg invented the team leadership model in modern management
education. But this collaborative model also extends beyond
the student body to include our faculty and administration,
both of which welcome students as key partners in the school's
life. In this way, students become catalysts for innovation
and knowledge creation — another central part of our
mission.
As
you will see in this edition of Kellogg World, which
focuses on the Full-Time MBA Program, students indeed enhance
the Kellogg experience inside and outside the classroom
by creating opportunities to strengthen their leadership
skills.
Students
contribute to our curriculum not only by participating in
courses of interest to them, but by bringing their professional
experiences to bear on our offerings and by working with
faculty on research projects as co-creators of knowledge.
One instance among many that illustrates how they have stepped
forward in partnership with our professors is the Global
Issues in Management course, begun
in 1990 as a student-driven initiative. Given the market's
competitive landscape, it is imperative that students learn
to reason like researchers and truly "dig deeper"
to discover business and leadership solutions.
Many
additional avenues are open for students to strengthen their
thought leadership, including managing conferences and clubs,
which add vitality and diversity to the Kellogg culture.
Dozens of such opportunities exist, including in areas like
social enterprise. Another example of student initiative
is seen in the tradition of Special K!, our annual theatrical
revue written, directed and performed entirely by Kellogg
School students. The story "Dramatic
presence" reveals some of this popular event's
history.
Another
way that students help define our culture is through its
governance, specifically via the Kellogg Student Association
(KSA). This group of talented individuals has demonstrated
the enthusiasm and ability to set the tone for student etiquette
throughout the school. KSA also partners with the Kellogg
administration to exchange ideas about many areas of the
school's curriculum and culture.
Clearly,
these collaborative relationships among our faculty, staff
and students are sustaining the Kellogg experience, continuing
to innovate and add value. We view our students as genuine
partners, not as passive participants or mere customers
during their tenure here. And this framework extends more
broadly: It is a responsibility shared by all members of
the Kellogg community, including alumni.
This
is why we reach out to our alumni, inviting them to share
in the life of the Kellogg School. By lending their talents,
support and resources to our mission, they help ensure not
only our continued success, but they also maintain their
own personal "brand."
We
believe that no one succeeds alone. When Kellogg wins, our
alumni benefit. And when our alumni succeed, their efforts
reflect well on the Kellogg School.
This
is a virtuous circle that sustains and benefits us all.
Warmest
personal regards,
Dipak
C. Jain
Dean
