Saint Mary's Newsroom

The Midwest Academy of Management held its annual conference on Oct. 26-30. Originally scheduled to be held at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, the conference was held virtually due to COVID-19.

Dr. Jennifer Schultz, DBA faculty, was the co-chair of the Doctoral Consortium on the opening day. Dr. Michelle Weiser, dean of Saint Mary’s School of Business and Technology, provided an opening welcome to the session. Dr. Matt J. Nowakowski was a session moderator. Dr. Nancy Johnson, alumna of the program, presented a talk titled “Effective and Efficient! Tools and Tips for Managing Your Dissertation Research.”

A panel of current Saint Mary’s DBA alumni and students presented a discussion titled “It’s a Small, Small World: International Student Success in Uncertain Times.” The students and alumni comprising the panel were:

• Belinda Gardner
• Akin Falade
• Dr. Hui Wang
• Abisola Femi-Jegede
• Dr. Wei Zhang
• Divine Ningue Arpellet
• Gina Muigai
• Bayogar Anthony McCritty
• Cecilia Mutharia

The HR Symposium featured a panel presentation titled “Finding an Academic Appointment in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous World.” The presenters included:

• Jennifer L. Schultz
• Matt J. Nowakowski
• Michele L. Heath, Cleveland State University
• Tim O. Peterson, North Dakota State University
• Ronda M. Smith, Ball State University
• Phil Thompson, Virginia Tech

Saint Mary’s DBA students Danielle Ailts Campeau and Nathaniel Siats moderated the panel. Danielle Ailts Campeau also presented a paper at the conference titled “Effects of Entrepreneurship Training Participation On Startup Performance.” Dr. Schultz also presented a professional development workshop titled “Still Getting The Job Done (despite The Storm): Female Perspectives On Navigating Insecurities, Social Unrest, Isolation, Education, Inaccessible Self-Care, and The Possibility of Forever Remote Inside The Covid-19 Pandemic” with faculty from other institutions.

Two DBA students moderated content-area sessions at the conference. Abisola Femi-Jegede was the session moderator for “Exploring Some New Ideas.” Belinda Gardner moderated the session “An Interest in Cities, Shopping Malls, and Billing.”

Father James P. Burns, IVD, Ph.D., president of Saint Mary’s, has been chosen as one of the state’s top 500 leaders and executives, and was included in a print edition of the MN 500.

The selection process begins each year with a list of more than 7,000 executives across multiple industries in Minnesota. The editors of Minnesota Monthly magazine, who publish the MN 500, cull this down to the top 500, looking at everything from the impact each executive has had or is having on their industry as a whole (both in their current role and prior roles), the success and impact the company itself has had or is having under their leadership, special awards or accolades, participation in community and philanthropic endeavors, position on other boards, and the like.

The print publication is mailed with Minnesota Monthly, reaching over 300,000 readers. 

The theme of this year’s virtual Huether Lasallian Conference, scheduled for Nov. 19-21, is “Great Things are Possible: Our Lasallian Mission Reimagined and Renewed.” The annual conference gathers Lasallians from across our region.

As we collectively navigate the coronavirus pandemic, the Office for Lasallian Education at Christian Brothers Conference, in consultation with the Huether planning committee and other stakeholders, have reimagined this year’s conference and pivoted to a virtual gathering, the first in the history of the Huether Lasallian Conference. Great care has been taken to ensure the program schedule allows for participants from across the region to come together for informative, inspiring, and knowledgeable presenters from within and outside the Lasallian family who will inspire participants to respond to challenges posed by the world today. 

• Dr. Nekeshia Hammond, past president of the Florida Psychological Association, host of Black Women Empowered Mental Health Moment, international speaker, Amazon international bestselling author and psychologist, will present the keynote address on Friday, Nov. 20. Dr. Hammond will assist us in reading the signs of the times and share challenges, such as stress, anxiety, trauma, and mental health, facing young people today and how we can continue best serving those entrusted to our care. Participants will gain approaches to enhance the socio-emotional health of youth, especially with youth of diverse backgrounds.
• Jeff Yalden, motivational speaker and Amazon bestselling author, will present an inspiring keynote address on Saturday, Nov. 21. For nearly three decades, Yalden has traveled across the country speaking to youth audiences, teachers, parents, and communities. As we go through these unprecedented times together, Yalden will empower us to rediscover our calling and renew our passion, conviction, and sense of mission.  

Access the registration materials by visiting the Christian Brothers Conference website. There is no registration fee to attend this year’s conference, however to attend the conference, you must register here by Thursday, Nov. 12. As part of your Huether registration, you will be able to access recorded general and breakout sessions for 60 days following the conference.