Western Michigan University and the Haworth College of Business will celebrate the opening of the new MBA Program Office and Global Business Center on Tuesday, April 13, from 2:30 - 4 p.m. in Schneider Hall, room 2320. The University community will participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. with remarks from University President John M. Dunn.
After months of construction, the center is now open and occupies an area in the northeast corner of the large student study lounge on the main floor.
“Global business is the norm rather than the exception,” says Dr. Ajay Samant, interim dean of the Haworth College of Business. “The primary focus of the Global Business Center is to facilitate and enhance the internationalization of the curriculum, faculty and students through multiple opportunities including international internships, study abroad programs, competitions, conferences, partnerships and speaker series.
“In addition, the suite provides a permanent presence for our MBA program, which has been in existence for over 50 years,” says Samant. “Our graduate students are encouraged to use the space as a meeting place to interact with one another, work on team projects or hold networking events."
The space houses offices for the both the MBA program director and the director of the Global Business Center, an MBA advising office and a joint reception area.
Dr. Zahir Quraeshi is the director of the Global Business Center. He has taught at WMU since 1978. He holds both a doctorate and master’s degree from Michigan State University and his teaching, research and consulting interests are in the areas of international business and marketing.
Dr. Jack Ruhl, BA '83, MBA '86, MBA program director, is currently acting associate dean for the Haworth College of Business. Dr. Ruhl's research interests include activity-based costing, the Theory of Constraints and attribution theory. He has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from WMU and a doctorate from Case Western Reserve University.
Barb Caras-Tomczak, BA '77, academic advisor, has over 33 years experience at WMU. Since 1979, she has advised both undergraduate and graduate students in the College. She has a bachelor’s degree from WMU and has held positions in the College of General Studies and the School of Librarianship at WMU.
Refreshments and tours of the center will be available immediately following the inaugural ceremony.
