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China Focus of 2008-09 Academic Year
Wartburg’s Business Department will feature a variety of discussions during the year, culminating in a May 2009 trip to China led by Timothy Ewest, assistant professor of business administration. The department hopes to incorporate speakers and cases that will help all students, faculty, and the business community understand more about the economic, political, and cultural issues faced in the business environment, both for those in China and those trading with Chinese businesses.
 The 40th anniversary of Wartburg’s Corporation Education Day on Tuesday, Oct. 7, will kick off the yearlong series of conversations about business in China, with keynote speaker Dr. Oded Shenkar of the Ohio State University. His book, The Chinese Century: The Rising Chinese Economy and Its Impact on the Global Economy, the Balance of Power, and Your Job, will be incorporated into classes during the year.
Dr. Herbert Hildebrandt ’52, professor emeritus of Law, History, and Communication at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, will serve as visiting special lecturer during that week. He has spent the last 27 years focusing his research and consulting on Asia, often traveling and/or teaching in China. Among other topics, he will share his insights on the cultural differences between managers in China and those in the United States.
All alumni are invited to the Oct. 7 event, which starts at 9:30 a.m. in McCaskey Lyceum. The 11:30 a.m. convocation in Neumann Auditorium by Dr. Shenkar will be followed by a 12:30 p.m. networking luncheon in Knights Ballroom of Saemann Student Center. A panel of business leaders will discuss the opportunities and challenges they have faced doing business in Asia starting at 1:30 p.m. in McCaskey Lyceum. The event will conclude by 3 p.m. Reservations can be made by contacting businessadm@wartburg.edu after Sept. 1, with a $15 fee payable before the event.
During the rest of the academic year, we plan to bring in speakers who have worked in or traveled to negotiate business relationships in China. If you are interested, please contact Gloria.Campbell@wartburg or Timothy.Ewest@wartburg.edu to discuss possible dates for traveling to Waverly or telecommuting to campus. Speakers will be incorporated into a wide variety of business classes.
Ewest also hopes to write cases during summer 2008 that can be used in classes throughout the year. If alumni have had business experiences with China they would be willing to share, Ewest is interested in scheduling time to talk with alumni. He estimates it might take about five hours for interviews and rewrites. The confidentiality of companies can be maintained by revising the names of individuals and firms. Please contact Timothy.Ewest@wartburg.edu if you would like to explore this possibility or can suggest names of those to contact. The context of the cases could be successes or situations with substantial challenges.
Global Spin to Economics Position
 The Business Department will have a more global viewpoint with the addition in Fall 2008 of Dr. Fungisai Nota, who has completed his Ph.D. degree in economics at the University of Nevada-Reno. Dr. Nota grew up in rural Zimbabwe. He received a scholarship to attend Simpson College in Iowa before attending graduate school at Iowa State University and then transferring to Reno.
Nota is pictured receiving the Thornton Peace Prize in May 2007, an annual award given to an individual or group on the University of Nevada-Reno campus who exemplifies the philosophy that force is not an acceptable means of settling disputes. His goal has been to study and learn how peace may be achieved in his local community, home country, and around the world.
Nota has formalized a way to settle disputes and advocate for peace in Africa. He promotes peace in the Reno community by serving on the board of directors for Northern Nevada Hopes, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of individuals and families infected or affected with HIV/AIDS.
Nota also assists students with conflict resolution and researches dispute settlement and rural development issues. His dissertation is multi-region contributions to the provision of pure and local public goods.
Dr. Nota assumes the position vacated by Dr. Janice Yee a year ago when she returned to teach at the University of Massachusetts-Worcester. The department appreciates the help of Kelvin Schuchart, who has served as an adjunct instructor in the department for several years and taught economics full-time during the 2007-08 year.
Folkers Assumes Department Chair Duties
Kim Folkers will assume duties as department chair next fall. Paul Magnall has served in that capacity since 2002. Under his direction, the department has added a ninth faculty member, a sports management concentration, and collaborated to add an interdepartmental social entrepreneurship minor.
Long-time Business Dept. Office Coordinator Retires
 Ann Killion, who has coordinated work study employees and departmental activities since 1990, retired at the end of May Term. During that time, she’s seen many changes in technology. When she started, the department was still using a Mimeograph and Rizzograph to duplicate materials. Now, an advanced printer will collate and staple documents automatically. She’s worked with close to 20 work-study students and more than 20 faculty members—plus adjuncts. She says she will miss working with students, college staff, and faculty but looks forward to spending more time work with grandchildren and doing volunteer work in the community, traveling, etc. Tiffany Webb from Plainfield, Iowa, has been hired for the office coordinator’s position.
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