Dr.TerriFriel
675LakeSt.Suite208
OakPark,Il60301
(317)413-9767tfriel@gmail.com
DeanSearchCommittee
MonteAhujaCollegeofBusiness
c/oCSUBusinessDeanSearch
R.WilliamFunk&Associates
100HighlandParkVillage,Suite200
Dallas,Texas75205
RE:Candidacyforpositionofdean
April7,2016
LadiesandGentlemen:
ItismypleasuretosubmitmyapplicationforthepositionofDeanoftheMonteAhujaCollegeof
BusinessatClevelandStateUniversity.Aftermuchconsiderationandinvestigation,Ifindthatthis
positionisextremelyattractivetome.Ibelievemyexperience,skillsandbackgroundarevery
consistentwithwhatyouareseeking,andthatIcouldbeanoutstandingdeanforthebusinessschool.I
wouldbeveryexcitedtobeconsidered.ItappearstomethatCSUandtheCollegehavestabilitybut
alsoagreatmanyareasfornewopportunities.Itwouldbeathrilltobeinvitedtoworkwiththe
universityandthecollegetobuildthecollegeanddevelopnewexcitingopportunitiesforstudents.
Yourpositionstatementindicatesthatyouseek"aprovenleaderwhohasextensiveadministrative
experienceandacademiccredentialsthatmerittenureinoneofthecollege'sdepartments.Individuals
whohavemeaningfulleadershipexperienceanddemonstratedsignificantaccomplishmentinbusiness,
governmentorconsultingorganizationswillalsobeconsidered.”
Inadditiontomy25yearsinacademiaandinbusinessschooladministration,Ialsoworkedformany
yearsinthecorporateworld,andIhavecontinuedtokeepstrongtieswiththebusinesscommunityand
remainextremelyinvolvedwiththebusinessworld.Ibelieveitisvitalforanybusinessschool,and
particularlyforoneresidinginalargebusiness-orientedcity,tobestronglyconnectedwiththelocal
businesscommunity.MyrecordasdeanshowsthatIputaverystrongemphasisonactivelyengaging
thecollegewiththebusinesscommunity.Thisengagementhelpsthecollegetoserveboththebusiness
communityanditsstudentsanditgreatlyincreasestheperceivedvalueofthecollege.Importantly,this
businessnetworkcreatesvaluableexperienceandopportunitiesforbothstudentsandfaculty.Notonly
that,thatsamenetworkcantendtobequiteprofitableforthebusinesscollege.Iwasabletousethe
manyconnectionswemadetoraisesubstantialfundsforthecollegeswhereIworked.
Ilearnedearlyinmycareerthatsimplychasinghighersalariesandresponsibilitywasnotcompletely
satisfyingtome.Instead,Isoughtawaytomakesenseofandbuilduponaveryvaluableabilitytothink
analytically,implementsuccessfullyandfindinnovativesolutionstodifficultproblems.
Dr.TerriFriel
675LakeSt.Suite208
OakPark,Il60301
(317)413-9767tfriel@gmail.com
Asadean,Istrovetoensurethatstudentshadeverythingwecouldfeasiblyprovidetohelpthem
achievetheirdreams.Thisincludedhighacademicstandardsaswellasgivingstudentsopportunitiesto
obtainreal-worldexperienceandglobalbusinessinteraction.Inordertodothat,aninvolvedand
caringfacultyisneeded.Iplaceahighvalueonandhavebuiltasenseofcommunitywithinmycolleges
bykeepingdecision-makingtransparentandbyseekingconsensusforimportantdecisionsand
initiatives;seekingandencouragingfacultyinput.MyexperienceasaBaldrigeexaminerhashelpedme
tohonemyskillsinbuildingconsensusandtorealizethatconsensusoftenprovidesthemostelegant
andinnovativesolutions.I’mwellawarehowdifficultthiscanbe.Ihavebeenquitesuccessfulin
buildingconsensusoncollegecampuses,recapturingfacultywhoweredisenfranchisedand
strengtheningthecollegeprogress.
Asyouareseekingsomeonewithleadershipabilityandtheabilitytoworkpositivelywiththelocal
businesscommunity,Ibelievethatnooneyoumayconsiderwillhavemoreprovensuccess.My
backgrounddemonstratesmystrongabilitiesintheseareas.Examplesofmysuccessinleadershipand
inworkingwiththebusinesscommunityincludethefollowing:
ü ButlerUniversityLilyFoundationGrantfornewcurriculumdevelopmentandcollege
improvement
AsassociatedeanIwasonthethree-personcommitteethatinitiatedandspearheaded
oursuccessfulpursuitofa$22millionLilyFoundationgrant.Wehadbeenseekingto
amendthecurriculumtoincorporateentrepreneurship.Wealsowantedourstudents
tobetterunderstandthat,intherealworldofbusiness,thedifferentbusiness
disciplinesareintegratedandfunctiontogether,notindependently.Toooftenit
seemedthatstudentswerethinkingprimarilyintermsoftheirowndisciplineormajor
whileregardingrequiredcourseworkoutsidetheirmajorasextraneousorlessvaluable.
Wewantedthemtounderstandthat,intherealworld,thedifferentdisciplinesneedto
worktogether.Welaboredfortwoyearstodevelopthegrantapplication.Oncewe
wereawardedthe$22million,Iwaschosentobethegrantmanagerwhooversawthe
spendingtomakesurethatthemoneywasbestusedtohelptodrivethe
implementationofourplan.Wedevelopedanewcurriculum,setupabusiness
accelerator,andredesignedthecollegelayoutandaesthetics.Ialsoactedastheproject
managerforthecollegerefurbishment,aswellaschairofthecurriculumcommittee.I
alsoledtheplanningcommitteefortheaccelerator.Today,theButlerCollegeof
BusinesswebsitecontinuestohighlightthechangesIhelpedleadanddevelopas
importantaspectsoftheuniquenessofaButlereducation.
ü TradingRoomDevelopment
AtRooseveltIwastheleadindevelopingtheideaforthetradingroomandconvincing
areabusinessdonorstoinvestintheproject.OverthreeyearsIraised$300,000forthe
developmentofthistradingroom,allowingustoinvestinBloombergterminals,special
Dr.TerriFriel
675LakeSt.Suite208
OakPark,Il60301
(317)413-9767tfriel@gmail.com
softwareforteachinginvestmentandtoprovideprofessionaldevelopmentforfaculty
toteachthecoursesusingthisasset.
ü Internships
Iworkedveryhardatgreatlyexpandingourstudentinternships.Undermydeanshipat
Roosevelt,businessschoolinternshipsmorethandoubled.Thiswastheresultofa
consciousefforttoworkwithfirmsandtoprovideflexibleinternalmechanismsand
programstohelpmakeitpossibleformorestudentstofindandobtaininternship
positionsandtheinvaluableexperiencethattheyprovide.
ü Incubators
Ihadthecollegeestablishabusinessincubatoronourcampus,whichprovideda
fantasticon-siteexperienceforboththefacultyandthestudentswhoworkedwiththe
variousstart-upcompaniesthatwehostedandsupported.
IhaveexcellentexperienceinplanningforandmaintainingAACSBaccreditation.AtButler
UniversityIwasgiventheresponsibilityforpreparingthecollegeforourmaintenanceof
accreditationsitevisit.Iwasalsoontheuniversityassessmentcommittee.Oneandahalfyears
priortothesitevisit,westillhadnoAACSBassessmentprogram.Workingwiththeassessment
committeeIwasabletoleadthefacultyanddepartmentleadersinthedevelopmentof
appropriateassessmenttoolsandstudentoutcomesdevelopment.Ialsosoughtoutandfound
examplesofwherelearningoutcomeshadalreadybeenassessedwithintheuniversity,and
usedthesealsoforreportingforAACSB.Forexample,presentationswerebeingassessedbya
courseintheA&Scollege.Wearrangedtogatherthesedatafromprioryearsandtodevelop
severalyearsofprogressonthisgoalfromexistingactivities.Wedidmuchthesamethroughan
internshipprogramforbroadbusinesslearningandwithExecutivesinResidencewehad
informationfromtheirmentoringactivities.Weusedallthesedata,andalsodatacollected
throughtheAACSBassessmentthatIhadhelpedtoinitiate,forassuranceoflearningtoimprove
ouracademicprograms.Asaresult,oursitevisitwassuccessfulandwereceivedarenewalof
accreditationdespitethefactthatlittlehadbeendonespecificallyonassessmentforAACSB
priortomyinvolvement.
AtRooseveltIarrivedin2008withadirectivetopreparethecollegeofbusinesstoapplyfor
AACSBaccreditation.Within2yearswehadanewvisionandmissionstatement,aunanimously
approvedstrategicplan,astatementofvaluesandafullassessmentandassuranceoflearning
programinplace,andhad"closedtheloop"byusingourassessmentdatatomakevaluable
improvementstoourprograms.WewereabletosubmitaqualityapplicationforpreaccreditationreviewtoAACSB.Whiletheuniversityeventuallyhadtoabandontheprocessdue
tobeingunabletomaketherequiredfinancialcommitment,particularlythehiringofsufficient
SPqualifiedfaculty,itwasaninvaluableexperience.Iwasalsoinchargeofthecollege'sACBSP
review,whichwentverywellandwhichthecollegepassedwithoutreservation.
Dr.TerriFriel
675LakeSt.Suite208
OakPark,Il60301
(317)413-9767tfriel@gmail.com
Asfarashelpingacollegetobecomemoreproductiveintermsofintellectualcontributions,I
hadexcellentsuccessinthisatRoosevelt.OnekeytothiswasthatIinitiatedexecutive
educationandotherprofitableprogramsandusedthosefundstosignificantlyincreasefunding
offacultyresearchandinvolvementwithnationalacademicorganizationsandmeetings.
Facultywereguaranteedanannualtravelfundforthefirsttime.Usingnewlyestablished
journallistswebeganusingDigitalMeasurestoactivelytrackpublicationsandannually
recognizedfacultyawardsandresearch.Theinvolvementofmanyofourfacultywithour
businessincubatorsandwithlocalbusinessorganizationsalsogaveourfacultytremendously
valuableinsightandcontactsthatproducedadditionalresearch.OverallIsupportedand
encouragedfacultyresearchmuchmorestronglythanithadbeeninthepast,resultingina
largeincreaseinfacultypublications,recognitionandawards.
Youveryunderstandablystateadesireforadeanwhounderstandsthechallenges–andalso
theopportunities–posedbytechnologyinbusinesseducation.AtbothRUandBU,Iwasthe
maindriverintheinstallationofnewhightechnologyclassroomsforthecollege.Oneofmy
publicationsdealswiththechallengeofeducatingfacultytousetheseclassroomswithmy
collaboratorsandtrainersatButlerUniversity.Weweresuccessfulinteachingfacultytousethe
newtechnologyseamlesslyoverthesummerwithnostart-upglitchesinthefallthatyear.This
isonlyanexampleofmyeffortstopreparemycollegesforthefuture.
Theeconomyischanginganddemandsplacedonhighereducationareincreasing.Questions
abouttherelevancyoftheMBA,thestudentloan“bubble”,futurechangestothechainof
systemsthatwilloccurwith3Dprintingandnanotechnology,dronedeliveries,andother
emergingtechnologiesarechangingbusinessasweknowittoday.I’vejustreturnedfromthe
AACSBICAMconferenceinBostonwherethemaintopicisthechangingnatureofbusiness
educationandtheroleofbusinessschoolswheretheydiscussedmanyoftheseconcernsand
more.Inmyworkwithstart-upsandsmallbusinessesIamseeingthisnewtechnological
developmentfirsthand.Infact,Iamworkingwithfundraisersandinvestorsinthesebusinesses
andreviewingpro-formasthatpredictmajoropportunitiesfornewbusinessin5-10years.
Businessschoolsmustrespondtothisandagainbegintoanticipatethefutureratherthan
respondtothepast.Forexample,inlightof3Dprintinganditspotentialtoupendthesupply
chain,wemustbegintoanswersuchquestionsas:Whatwilljobslooklikewhenthishappens?
Howshouldthecollegeanticipateandpreparestudentsforthesenewopportunities?Whatdo
thesechallengesmeanforourcurriculumandhowweeducateourstudents?Theprograms
thatembracethesechangesandtechnologieswillbetheonesthatsurviveandprosper.
Withstatebudgetsunderduress,oneofthewaysstatelegislatureshavebeenbalancing
budgetsisbyreducingstatesupportofhighereducation.Ohioisagoodexampleofthat.This
Dr.TerriFriel
675LakeSt.Suite208
OakPark,Il60301
(317)413-9767tfriel@gmail.com
ofcoursehasthetrickle-downeffectofreducinguniversity-levelsupportofthebusinesscollege.
Howcanthecollegerespondeffectively?Theanswershouldincludereachingoutfornew
sourcesofstudents,newsourcesofrevenue,andnewsupportfromthebusinesscommunity.
Planningforandaccomplishingthisisavitalpartofthedean'sjob.Severalyearsago,atthe
AIDSFoundationofChicago,whereIamaboardmember,financecommitteechairand
executivecommitteemember,was90%dependentonasinglesourceofincome.Iposedthe
questiontotheboardofhowwewoulddealwiththelossofthatresource,somethingtheboard
hadneverconsidered!Asaresultofmyinitiative,theFoundationdevelopedaplantoprice
someofitsservicesandsellthemtofor-profitinstitutions.TheFoundationisnowbringingin
$2-3millionperyearfromsuchsales,withplanstoexpandthesefurther.Increasingly,thisis
thekindofthinkingthatbusinessschoolsneedtoengagein.Ihaveexcelledasafundraiser,
raisingalmost$11millioninsixyearsatarelativelysmallschool.Thiswasaccomplishedlargely
asabyproductofmysuccessinactivelyengagingthebusinesscollegeasavaluedfriendand
partnertothelocalbusinesscommunity.
Anareathat,whilenotspecificallymentionedinyourjobdescription,Iknowyouvalue,is
appreciationforthebenefitsofdiversity.Inreadingtheuniversitystrategicplanand
familiarizingmyselfwiththeuniversity,Inotedthatyouhavearelativelydiversestudentbody.
ThisisanareawhereIhaveacommitmenttoachieveandhavehadgoodsuccess.Encouraging
minoritystudentstobelieveinthemselvesandtopursuetheirdreamshasbeenanimportant
partofmyacademicexperience.Italsobenefitsthecollege.Manybusinessschoolsareseeing
decliningenrollmentsinMBAandothermastersprograms,forexample,andIhaveexperience
insuccessfullyreachingouttodiversesourcesofstudentswhowillbenefitfromwhatbusiness
programshavetoofferandrevisingsystemstofacilitateaccessandsuccessforthese
populations.Bothpartiesthusbenefitfromthisoutreach.
TheMonteAhujaCollegeofBusinessappearstometohavemanyinstitutesandawonderfully
diverseandwell-publishedfacultythatcreatesastrongfoundationforthefuture.Building
uponthatfoundationwouldbeanexcitingopportunity.AsItendtobeveryentrepreneurial,I
oftenhavemanyideasandvisionsfornewprogramsandgrowth.Workingwiththefacultyto
defineandfleshoutnewideaswewillimplementtogetherwouldbeapleasure.
Thankyouforyourtimeinreviewingmyapplication.Iwouldbequitepleasedtointerviewfor
thisposition.Iunderstandthatthetimingisquiteaggressive.Thisisnotanissue.
Sincerely,
Dr.TerriFriel