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Letter
from the Dean
Dear Kellogg
School Alumni and Friends,
At
Kellogg, we talk a great deal about the complementary benefits
of theory and practice, because the distinction is critical.
Our faculty and students realize that knowledge, no matter
how elegant in the abstract, means little if it cannot effect
positive change in the world.
But
we do more than talk about getting this balance right; we
achieve it across all our programs — Full-Time, Part-Time
and Executive MBA — challenging our students and scholars
to "dig deeper" as they work together to devise
solutions to the global market's issues. Our professors construct
frameworks tested in real-world settings, while our students
understand that converting classroom insights into action
is the only way to advance along the leadership path to make
important social and commercial contributions.
This
challenge is one we have met since our school's earliest days.
When
Northwestern University's School of Commerce opened in 1908
in downtown Chicago, its mission was to train businesspeople
to achieve better practical results. It offered a part-time
curriculum for working professionals seeking to acquire the
skills — in accounting, finance, economics and commercial
law — that would add value to their organizations. The
endeavor soon attracted the support of prominent Chicago business
leaders. By the end of that first year, 225 students had enrolled,
exceeding the expectations of Dean Willard Hotchkiss and his
planning committee.
Quickly,
the school introduced many additional classes, such as the
psychology of business and advertising, taught by pathbreaking
psychologist Walter Dill Scott who would go on to serve as
president of Northwestern. The school was also home to some
of the earliest accounting scholarship, with Arthur Andersen
and others joining the faculty in 1909. And as early as 1911,
the school introduced its first management policy course,
one that examined business principles within the context of
Chicago's manufacturing landscape.
From
these auspicious beginnings we grew our various offerings,
including the modern Part-Time MBA Program. Officially named
The Managers' Program (TMP) in 1972, this curriculum has consistently
provided exemplary leadership tools to professionals balancing
careers and, often, families, who also have the desire to
advance their mastery of contemporary business.
As
you will read in this edition of Kellogg World, TMP
students enjoy a rich academic experience. They also enjoy
the chance to put their Kellogg knowledge to work immediately,
transferring classroom insights into action on Monday morning
when they return to their offices. Likewise, they bring their
professional challenges into the classroom, where our faculty
can test academic frameworks against the real concerns of
today's leaders.
While
TMP attracts a regional demographic, the program's graduates
make a difference worldwide. Beginning with "The
culture of TMP brings learning to life," you can
read about the contributions of some members of this illustrious
group.
You
can also learn about important changes at the Kellogg School,
including enhancements to
our leadership curriculum and our senior administration.
Also, we share some highlights from Convocation,
celebrating the Class of 2006.
Though
graduation marks the formal end of studies, we view the occasion
as the beginning of a lifelong relationship between our alumni
and Kellogg. Indeed, this spring saw yet another remarkable
turnout for our annual Reunion
Weekend, with alumni returning to reconnect with one another
and with the school for a variety of social and educational
offerings.
Remember
that the Kellogg School's vast intellectual and social capital
remains a powerful resource for you as alumni. Indeed, every
day, the Kellogg network performs in extraordinary ways, thanks
to the efforts of extraordinary people, a few of whom you
can meet in the story "Net
profit." We invite each of you to contribute to and
benefit from the unique opportunities afforded by your alumni
affiliation.
Together,
we continue taking Kellogg to greater heights as we all turn
knowledge into action that transforms the world.
Warmest
personal regards,
Dipak
C. Jain
Dean
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