Monday, June 25, 2018

Dean's Message, June 2018



Dean Hassan HassabElnaby
Happy Summer! I hope you are using some time to relax, spend time with family/friends, and recharge for the upcoming Fall semester.  Even in summer, there are still exciting things happening here in COBI.

Perhaps the biggest news is the announcement of the next Dean of the UT College of Business and Innovation, Dr. Anne Balazs, who will join our beloved college from Eastern Michigan University - - also a Mid-American Conference school - - where she is interim dean of the College of Business. She is also very familiar with Toledo for a number of reasons, including being on the UT campus in the winter of 2014 as a fellow for the American Council on Education. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Balazs when she begins her new role at UT COBI on August 13. You can read more about her in this issue.

If you are seriously interested in advancing your own career or business, you can develop and enhance the skills that can help you COBI’s Executive MBA program.  Class meetings on-campus are just once a month for 12 months. Through a variety of team projects you will develop key contacts that will last a lifetime. We only accept about 20 people in each cohort, and spaces are filling for the next cohort, which will begin this fall. Learn more on our website at http://www.utoledo.edu/business/graduate/emba.

And if you want to help COBI students - - and have some fun in the process - - please be sure to sign up now for the 20th Annual University of Toledo Business vs. Engineering Scholarship Golf Outing. It will be held on Saturday, Aug. 25 at Stone Oak Country Club.   Our alumni are amazing supporters of our students, and the scholarships that are awarded as a result of this event are tremendously important to the student recipients. Click here to register to play or to become a sponsor.

Thank you to all for your support throughout the year. Enjoy your summer!

Inspire. Transform. Empower. Achieve.

Go Rockets!

Interim Dean Hassan HassabElnaby

Dr. Hong praises predecessors and colleagues for his receiving UT’s Distinguished University Professor award


Dr. Paul Chongkun Hong, professor of information operations and technology management in the University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation, has been named Distinguished University Professor in recognition of his exemplary teaching, research, scholarship and professional service, and was so recognized by the UT Board of Trustees earlier this year.

Dr. Paul Hong
Dr. Hong is only the second COBI professor to win this award, the other being Dr. Clint Longenecker.

“This recognition is about the value of teaching, research and outreach of business faculty for the world at large,” Dr. Hong said. “I accept this honor along with my colleagues here at The University of Toledo and around the world who have worked with me over the years.”

Dr. Hong joined the UT College of Business in 1999. He is an internationally recognized researcher in network capabilities, global supply chain management, international comparative studies, and building growth engine industries for national competitiveness. Dr. Hong, who was selected a Fulbright-Nehru Teaching and Research Excellence Scholar in 2017, has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and three books. He received UT’s Outstanding Researcher Award in 2015.

“This award suggests that UT COBI has been an outstanding leader in teaching, and this is very important,” Dr. Hong said.  “It reflects international recognition of our global reputation.”

“This is not just about me, but also my colleagues. We have wonderful programs in all areas of business disciplines such as sales/marketing, operations and supply chain, accounting, finance, management, international business and entrepreneurship. Students have great choices for our MBA, Executive MBA and international programs in India, China and Egypt.  Besides, we have a very unique doctoral program in manufacturing and technology management through which numerous influential scholars have been raised. COBI has supported international conferences in global supply chain management and superb service outreach efforts.”

“I appreciate all of those who went before me with outstanding scholarship and commitment to global engagements,” Dr. Hong said. “Among them, I would like to recognize Calvin Lawshe and Diane Marker who brought me to the University of Toledo years ago. My sincere appreciation to my primary mentors such as William Doll, Mark Vonderembse, Subba Rao, TS Ragunathan and Anand Kunnathur.  They have been instrumental to make UT COBI, with a doctoral program, and thus make it a truly comprehensive and research excellent college.  I cannot forget to mention Tom Gutteridge, Clint Longenecker, and PS Sundar who supported me to settle and thrive in this great college. I wish I could recognize all others who have done so much with me as wel.”

“Individuals, organizations and nations must take paths for their own success first. But it is not success but service that is the ultimate joy of this life,” he explained. “With this Distinguished University Professor award, I am more committed to enhance the fine reputation of UT around the world through teaching, scholarship and service efforts. I will keep doing my part in enhancing UT COBI’s reputation as an exemplary leader in the world of business.”

“I accept this award affirming that every success is another opportunity for service,” Dr. Hong said. “Together we do establish a real environment of sustainable excellence here at UT.”



COBI Scholarship Golf Outing set for August 25. Register now!



The 20th Annual University of Toledo Business vs. Engineering Scholarship Golf Outing presented by DGL Consulting Engineers and Hylant, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 25 at Stone Oak Country Club. More than 100 area golfers participate annually in this fun philanthropic event and all proceeds go toward student scholarships.
Check-in and lunch begin at 11:30 a.m., the 18-hole shotgun starts at 1:30 p.m., following by a post-golf dinner.

The cost is $100 per golfer and $400 for a foursome. Each golfer receives the following at the outing:
o Meals provided before and after the outing
o Complimentary refreshments on the course 
o Swag bag for each attendee
o Prizes for first, second, third and last-place teams
o Betting holes, closest to the pin, longest drive and longest putt contests
o Mulligans and team skins available

 If you would like to make a reservation, please call the Office of Alumni and Annual Engagement at 419.530.4316 or 800.235.6766 or email us at ansley.abrams@utoledo.edu.



Wednesday, June 13, 2018

New dean selected to lead UT College of Business and Innovation

Dean Anne L. Balazs
An expert in marketing, consumer behavior and sales force management with administrative experience in higher education has been named dean of The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation.

Dr. Anne L. Balazs will join UT Monday, Aug. 13, from Eastern Michigan University, where she is interim dean of the College of Business.

“I am proud to welcome Dr. Anne Balazs to The University of Toledo as dean of the College of Business and Innovation,” Dr. Andrew Hsu, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, said. “She is an experienced leader with a track record of moving organizations forward through collaborations with faculty and industry partners.”

“It’s a great joy and honor to join The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation with its impressive faculty, staff, students, supportive alumni and business community partners,” Balazs said. “This is a strong base from which to build and prepare the next generation of leaders for the global marketplace.”

Balazs will be the first woman to serve as dean of the UT College of Business and Innovation. Amy Morrison served as interim dean of the college from 1965 to 1966.

“I have learned from many strong female leaders throughout my career of nearly 30 years,” Balazs said. “I’m looking forward to joining the leadership team and moving UT onward and upward.”

During her 10 years at EMU, Balazs also served as interim assistant vice president and director of graduate studies, interim director of graduate studies, special assistant to the dean of the College of Business, head of the Department of Marketing, and professor of marketing.

Prior to EMU, Balazs worked at Mississippi University for Women as interim dean of the College of Business, head of the Division of Business and Communications, and associate professor of marketing. She started her teaching career at the University of Oklahoma as an assistant professor of marketing.

“Dr. Balazs’ extensive administrative experience as department chair at two different institutions and her experience as interim dean also at two different institutions distinguished her as a candidate,” Hsu said. “Our stakeholders were particularly impressed with her understanding of the accreditation process through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.”

“The goal is to show the world what we do in Toledo,” Balazs said. “I plan to promote the college and all it has to offer to a wide audience. Research productivity and sharing of the knowledge we create is important. The accomplishments of the faculty and students are great stories to share. Success breeds success.”

Balazs holds a PhD in business administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, studied masters-level course work in economics at Boston University while working at Fidelity Investments, and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Smith College.

Her research has been published in the Journal of International Business, Journal of Consumer Affairs, Psychology & Marketing, and Journal of Business Research.

Balazs is familiar with Toledo, not only because she currently lives about an hour away.

“I first experienced the UT campus in the winter of 2014 as a fellow for the American Council on Education,” Balazs said. “My family has been to the Toledo Zoo, Toledo Museum of Art and Mud Hens games. Plus, I am of Hungarian descent and enjoy visiting the Birmingham community that serves as home to Tony Packo’s. Toledo already feels like home.”

Balazs’ husband is Dr. Peter B. Wood, criminologist on the faculty at EMU. The couple has three children. Margaret, 19, is a sophomore at the University of Alabama. Twins Andrew and Sophie, 16, are entering their sophomore year at Saline High School in the fall.

Hsu thanked Dr. Hassan HassabElnaby for his leadership while serving as interim dean since October. He will return to the position of associate dean for graduate programs and research for the UT College of Business and Innovation.