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From
the Dean
Dear Kellogg School
Alumni and Friends,
Kellogg
is a school with many strengths. Certainly our thought leadership
in the marketing arena is well known and has been respected
for years, and we continue to produce discipline-defining
research in that field. But it is important also to recognize
other academic areas within Kellogg that boast world-class
curriculums and faculty.
One such area
is our Finance Department.
As you
will read in this edition of Kellogg World, our strengths
in finance are varied and abundant. Our faculty is filled
with award-winning scholars whose research-based insights
result in outstanding learning opportunities in the classroom.
Indeed, by every measure, our Finance Department is one of
the best.
Today,
more than ever, finance plays a critical role in any organization,
and firms require leaders who can excel in managing this aspect
of the business. (In "A
wealth of experience", you will meet a few of the
Kellogg School alumni doing precisely this.) Yet even for
those whose careers are concerned primarily with marketing,
for instance, a grounding in finance proves invaluable for
understanding the firm's overall strategy.
This
is why the Kellogg School's finance curriculum provides the
essential frameworks for both those students pursuing careers
as finance specialists, and also for those seeking a more
general corporate finance background so that they may better
play leadership roles within their organizations.
In particular,
our Analytical Finance major is designed to provide cutting
edge technical tools for those students preparing for careers
as finance specialists. One indication of the robust quality
of finance education at Kellogg is the success of our students
who have translated their classroom experience into excellent
performances in various competitions. For instance, over the
past few years, Kellogg School students have won several first-place
honors in both the Cornell MBA Stock Pick Challenge and the
JPMorgan Challenge. Kellogg is creating additional academic
opportunities for students interested in finance. We are partnering
with the American Bankruptcy Institute to develop a corporate
restructuring case competition and expect the inaugural competition
to take place in November.
The importance
of finance is also reflected in the perspectives of recruiters
who have told us that companies are increasingly seeking talented
graduates who can play strong quantitative roles. We have
responded to this industry need by reshaping our annual Pre-term
curriculum and orientation for incoming students. By offering
more flexibility with regard to academic scheduling, we have
enabled students to benefit from more advanced courses —
including finance — earlier in their Kellogg School
careers. As a result, these students are much better positioned
to compete for important summer internships. Frequently, these
internships lead to rewarding employment after graduation.
Speaking of graduation,
in June we once again celebrated the accomplishments of our
most recent graduating classes. Our commencement ceremonies
always afford us the chance to reflect back and look forward.
In my remarks to the graduates, I emphasized the importance
of cultivating a positive mental outlook. I believe strongly
in the ability of such a mindset to carry us through difficult
times, while also enabling us to achieve even more during
good times. Cultivating this frame of mind demands patience
and determination, but the rewards are remarkable, both for
oneself and for others.
Remaining optimistic
creates opportunities and inspires others to be their best.
It also builds healthy communities and networks, something
we at the Kellogg School always endeavor to foster for our
students, alumni and friends.
We invite you
to remain connected with our community, or to reconnect with
us. Together, we will continue to achieve greatness by leveraging
all our many talents.
Warmest personal
regards,
Dipak
C. Jain
Dean
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