From the Dean's Desk

100 Years and Counting

Martijn Cremers

Martijn Cremers

Tuesday, 30 March 2021
A blessed Holy Week.

April 20 marks the College’s “official” 100th anniversary when the University established the College of Foreign and Domestic Commerce with Father John O’Hara, C.S.C., as dean. At the start, the College had an enrollment of nearly 400 students and a 13-member faculty.

Pre-COVID, we had planned to celebrate the Centennial with receptions and other in-person events such as a conference. Even though pandemic-related restrictions are easing, we have decided to delay in-person celebrations that involve significant travels until 2022 out of an abundance of caution.

We will commemorate our anniversary this year in other ways, however. Here are a few projects underway: 

·       The Mendoza Business magazine’s cover story, “The Century Mark,” to be published in May, presents both the legacy of the College and the significance of our mission as we look to the future.
·       “Hidden History” is an ongoing Mendoza Morning Brew newsletter feature that highlights Mendoza history. 
·       The Century Mark website, scheduled for launch in April, will include stories about the founding of the College, a timeline of historical events and an essay series called “Make Your Mark.” The series features contributions by students, faculty, staff, alums and friends of the College as they reflect on the impact that Notre Dame and Mendoza have had on their lives. More information about how you can contribute will be sent soon.
·       Commemorative commencement gifts to all 2021 graduates of “The Great Wave” print will include the Centennial logo. 
·       A new edition of “O'Hara's Heirs: Business Education at Notre Dame,” with new chapters added to bring the history up to date, will be presented this fall. 
·       A special Centennial-themed Staff Appreciation Day is being planned for spring 2022 to thank our staff for their hard work, dedication and commitment to the College.

The Mendoza Centennial is a momentous occasion that provides us with the opportunity to reflect on our legacy as well as plan for the future. Above all, it is an occasion to recognize and remember the many people — faculty, staff, students, alums and others — whose lives and contributions formed the College as we know it today. As Kerry Temple wrote in “O’Hara’s Heirs,” “The story of the College is largely a story of its people …” I’m thankful to the many of you who contribute to the story of Mendoza every day.

“Dear brothers and sisters, every moment of our lives is a time for believing, hoping and loving. The call to experience Lent as a journey of conversion, prayer and sharing of our goods, helps us – as communities and as individuals – to revive the faith that comes from the living Christ, the hope inspired by the breath of the Holy Spirit and the love flowing from the merciful heart of the Father.
May Mary, Mother of the Saviour, ever faithful at the foot of the cross and in the heart of the Church, sustain us with her loving presence. May the blessing of the risen Lord accompany all of us on our journey towards the light of Easter.”
Happy Easter!

Martijn

Guest column: Jim Otteson

Martijn Cremers

Martijn Cremers

Monday, 22 March 2021
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Coming to Notre Dame in the middle of a pandemic was, well, interesting. But it was a homecoming for me. I earned my undergraduate degree in liberal studies from Notre Dame. I also attended a summer hockey camp at ND when I was 9. I fell in love. I resolved to be the first person in my family to go to college, and Notre Dame was the only option. As an undergrad here, I met my future wife, Katie, (who was a finance major), I studied abroad my sophomore year in Innsbruck, Austria, and I had some of the best experiences of my life.
I went on to get a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Chicago, where I wrote my dissertation on Adam Smith’s moral theory — leading to a career that explored the disciplines of moral philosophy, 18th-century “classical” liberalism, the history of economic thought and, eventually, business ethics.
I have been amply blessed in my life, and the opportunity to join the faculty of Mendoza is, for me, the highest honor and greatest privilege I have had in my professional career. It is also a great responsibility. Notre Dame has a mission that goes beyond scholarly excellence. The words of Notre Dame’s mission statement resonate deeply with me: “The University of Notre Dame is a Catholic academic community of higher learning, animated from its origins by the Congregation of Holy Cross.” The statement continues: “As a Catholic university, one of its distinctive goals is to provide a forum where, through free inquiry and open discussion, the various lines of Catholic thought may intersect with all the forms of knowledge found in the arts, sciences, professions, and every other area of human scholarship and creativity.”
As a member of the faculty of Notre Dame, I believe I am called every day to ask whether I am giving my all to its mission — not just as an excellent university, but as an excellent Catholic university, with all the duties, responsibilities, obligations … and joy that that entails.
I have recently been asked to serve as the faculty director of the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership. In this capacity, I am privileged to build on the outstanding foundation laid by its previous director, Chris Adkins, and to work with its outstanding team, associate director Brett Beasley and administrative assistant Deb Coch. Chris’s are big shoes to fill, and the challenge to maintain, and even expand, the work of Chris and his team is daunting. But I welcome the challenge and look forward to working with the Center and its team.
In the coming months, you will hear from the Deloitte Center about programs and activities we are planning. I hope you will join us and even contribute. Thanks primarily to Brett and Deb, you will also continue to get the Center’s regular newsletters and dispatches, containing links to and discussions of cutting-edge research and scholarship that reflect the dynamic field of business ethics. We welcome your suggestions about speakers to invite, in-residence scholars to host, conferences to organize, research to support, and programs to sponsor.
I thank Martijn Cremers and Ken Kelley for this opportunity. I thank Chris for all he has done to set up the Center for success. I thank Brett and Deb for their continuing and dedicated service. And I thank all of you — my Mendoza colleagues — for welcoming me and entrusting me with the honor of joining you and serving Our Lady’s University.
In Notre Dame,
Jim Otteson
John T. Ryan Jr. Professor of Business Ethics and
Rex and Alice A. Martin Faculty Director of the
Notre Dame/Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership

Guest column: Kara Palmer

Martijn Cremers

Martijn Cremers

Monday, 15 March 2021
Staff DE&I Council Update
As you have heard from Dean Cremers, there are many ongoing efforts across the College to advance diversity, equity and inclusion among our students, faculty and staff. Our Staff Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council has been working hard since forming in December 2020 to identify opportunities for conversation, but more importantly with a goal of instituting action and change. I write today to acknowledge the hard work, dedication and commitment of this team and to share the work that has been done as well as efforts underway.
The Staff D&EI Council’s purpose is to create and sustain an inclusive culture for all Mendoza staff by fostering an environment of dignity, respect and fairness that is grounded in our Catholic mission. This is accomplished under the umbrella of three subcommittees with collective but varying charges:
RECRUITING AND TALENT SUBCOMMITTEE: Co-chaired by María Stutsman y Márquez and myself, the subcommittee is charged with developing a strategic recruiting and hiring plan to deploy to all staff hiring managers across the College to broaden the pool of applicants. In addition, this team is responsible for increasing awareness and building connections to leadership and hiring managers to diverse talent. The subcommittee also identifies training and development opportunities to better prepare diverse staff for professional advancement.
In the next couple of weeks, a new staff hiring process will be shared with hiring managers with clear expectations and requirements for job postings, candidate pool makeup, selection committees and evaluations. As part of the selection process, subcommittee members will serve as Diversity Catalysts who facilitate dialogue with hiring managers and selection committees to ensure staff searches are conducted in an equitable manner. They also are charged with creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for candidates throughout the interview process.
CULTURE AND INCLUSIVITY SUBCOMMITTEE: Chaired by Amanda Jacobson, the subcommittee is focused on how we can exemplify our commitment to diversity and inclusion in our everyday interactions with our colleagues, faculty, students and the greater Mendoza community.
One of the first priorities for the team is to draft a D&I Statement of Commitment on behalf of the Council. The primary purpose is to signal the College's commitment to staff diversity, equity and inclusion in all that we do. I’m pleased to share that progress is being made toward crafting a statement that will honor the voices and perspectives of our community. We look forward to including this message in future staff job postings and other communications from the DE&I Council.
Additional priorities for the Culture & Inclusivity subcommittee include reviewing and making recommendations for enhancements to our Mendoza Exchange intranet’s DE&I webpage, engaging with and sharing the good work of its fellow subcommittees, and enhancing opportunities for storytelling that celebrates our differences and encourages understanding.
ENGAGEMENT & EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE: Chaired by Joan McClendon, the subcommittee is responsible for researching, creating and deploying diversity and inclusion learning opportunities through the sourcing and development of educational resources, courses, workshops and activities. The team recently introduced the College to its first Compassionate Listening Series to create the opportunity for meaningful dialogues and to deepen relationships among colleagues. Members of the first cohort met on Feb. 26 where they shared their voices and support for one another on key questions related to race and diversity at Mendoza in a safe space. In addition, the team is partnering with Carol Elliott and the Communications team to feature stories in Mendoza Exchange that celebrate our diverse faculty, staff, student and alumni achievements.
In addition to these efforts, the entire Council is establishing a pulse survey to identify gaps and opportunities, to measure progress and to ensure accountability for ongoing growth and development. The survey’s intent is to collect both quantitative and qualitative data in a confidential/anonymous manner throughout the year. The Council will also be partnering with College leadership to establish clear DE&I objectives and goals that will be shared across the College and with University leadership as part of our commitment to elevate and improve.
A special thank you to all of our committee members and to College Leadership for the commitment, time and passion invested to help us grow towards the future.
Recruiting and Talent: Kimberly Bakle, Phil Drendall, Nick Farmer, Martin Johnson, María Stutsman y Márquez, Lindsey McIntyre, Kara Palmer, Tahra Taylor and Janel Zakrzewski-Kuntz.
Culture and Inclusivity: Angela Byce, Christopher Hillak, Melissa Jackson, Amanda Jacobson, Kelli Kilpatrick, Santhosh Kumar Lakkaraju, Min Hee Myung, J.R. Nemelka, Ryan Retartha and Diego Wang.
Engagement and Education: Brian Connelly, Christine Gramhofer, Lisa Heming, Jen LaPrad, Joan McClendon, Jessica Noffsinger, Shelly Sterling, Teresa True and Wendy Walker.
This is a journey with so much work still to be done. Culture change requires the ongoing commitment and leadership of everyone within the College. We invite and encourage all to share their stories, provide input and recommendations to any member of the Council.
In Notre Dame,
Kara
Kara J. Palmer
Director of Administration
Office of the Dean
Mendoza College of Business
University of Notre Dame

Advancing women leaders

Martijn Cremers

Martijn Cremers

Monday, 8 March 2021

Women’s History Month reminds us of the many women whose contributions throughout the College’s 100-year history have significantly shaped its mission and strategic vision. Last week, I wrote about our efforts to advance gender diversity among our faculty. This week, I want to emphasize and acknowledge the many women in academic leadership positions, including department chair, academic program and department director, associate dean and other administrative positions.

As with our faculty, the number of women filling these important roles has increased during the past decade. Current faculty directors include: Wendy Angst, assistant Management & Organization department chair; Viva Bartkus, faculty director of the Meyer Business on the Frontlines Program; Gianna Bern, academic director of the Master of Science in Finance-Chicago; Kristen Collett-Schmitt, associate dean of Specialized Masters Programs; Jennifer Cronin, director of Undergraduate Studies for M&O; Angela Logan, St. Andre Bessette Academic Director of Master of Nonprofit Administration; Amanda McKendree, Arthur F. and Mary J. O'Neil Director of the Fanning Center for Business Communication; Katherine Spiess, academic director of the (forthcoming) Master of Science in Finance-Residential; Sandra Vera-Muñoz, Deloitte Foundation Department Chair of Accountancy; and Jennifer Waddell, assistant ITAO department chair and director of Undergraduate Studies for ITAO.

We also have several women in department and functional director roles. Current directors include: Erin Bellissimo, managing director of the Notre Dame Institute for Global Investing; Carol Elliott, director of Communications; Tracy Freymuth, director of Student Services for Residential Graduate Programs; Christine Gramhofer, director of Executive Graduate Programs; Kelli Kilpatrick, MBA program director; Morgan McCoy, director of operations for Mendoza Graduate Programs; Letecia McKinney, Behavioral Research Program director; Alice Obermiller, director of Experiential Learning and Leadership Development; Kara Palmer, director of Administration; and María Stutsman y Márquez, director of Graduate Recruiting and Admissions.

An additional group of faculty members that we would like to recognize for their leadership is our full teaching professors: Wendy Angst, M&O teaching professor; Gianna Bern, finance teaching professor; Margaret Forster; finance teaching professor; Laura Hollis, accountancy teaching professor; and Tonia Murphy, accountancy teaching professor.

To continue to advance gender inclusion and equity in the College’s administration, we recently established two efforts focused on undertaken several targeted efforts:

  • The Mendoza Staff Diversity Coordinator, whose responsibility is to better focus and advance the College’s DE&I efforts and initiatives, and promote a culture of respect for diversity at Mendoza. Kara Palmer is serving in this important role, with a focus on recruiting and hiring; engagement and education; talent identification and development; and promotion of diversity, equity and inclusivity as part of the culture of Mendoza.
  • The Mendoza Staff Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, which is overseen by Kara and comprised of staff members from across the College. The Council’s purpose is to create and sustain an inclusive culture for all Mendoza staff by fostering an environment of dignity, respect and fairness that is grounded in our Catholic mission. These efforts will be facilitated through the College’s ongoing and continuing efforts to attract, retain and promote staff from all backgrounds, perspectives and abilities.

These are just two examples of the many efforts at Mendoza to advance gender diversity, equity and inclusion. I’m thankful to all those at the College who contribute to a respectful, equitable work and social environment.

In Notre Dame,

Martijn

Women’s History Month

Martijn Cremers

Martijn Cremers

Monday, 1 March 2021
On Friday, the University will celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by recognizing outstanding Notre Dame faculty members whose research, teaching and expertise have significantly contributed to their disciplines and our larger understanding of the world. For 2021, the theme is "Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World.”

I’m pleased to announce that Cindy Muir (Zapata), associate professor of Management & Organization, will represent Mendoza this year. Cindy, who joined Mendoza in 2019, has developed a body of research on organizational justice and trust, with a focus on the ways in which perceptions of individual behaviors and of race and gender differences may affect the relationships between managers and employees.

Cindy’s research provides important insights into the complexities of race and gender in the workplace and reminds us of the critical importance of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in our own work culture. As discussed in a previous message, DE&I is a top priority of the University, directly related to all three core pillars of Catholic social teaching (human dignity, solidarity and subsidiarity) and thus to Mendoza’s imperative to Grow the Good in Business.

One area of focus is the hiring and promotion of more female faculty. We currently have three female full professors: Ann Tenbrunsel, David E. Gallo Professor of Business Ethics (M&O); ITAO professor Hong Guo, who was promoted to full professor in May 2020; and Kirsten Martin, who joined Mendoza in 2020 as the William P. and Hazel B. White Center Professor of Technology Ethics. 

In addition, we have a number of tenured associate faculty members including: Viva Barktus, associate professor of Management & Organization; Stephannie Larocque, Notre Dame Associate Professor of Accountancy; Cindy Muir (Zapata), associate professor of Management & Organization; Sophie Shive, Viola D. Hank Associate Professor of Finance; Katherine Spiess, associate professor of Finance; Sandra Vera-Munoz, associate professor of Accountancy; and Xuying Zhao, associate professor of IT, Analytics, and Operations.

These developments signal improvements in gender diversity in our faculty over the past decade. We hope to continue making strides in the coming years. Our efforts to recruit female faculty include:

  • Adding the position of faculty diversity advocate: In collaboration with the Notre Dame Office of the Provost and Mendoza’s department chairs and search committees, the faculty diversity advocate seeks to increase the number of highly qualified faculty candidates from underrepresented groups. Ken Kelley, senior associate dean for faculty and research, currently serves in this role. The responsibilities include working to recruit, hire, retain and promote diverse faculty, from casting a wide net to increase diversity in the applicant pool to working to ensure any concerns and impediments to success are removed.
  • Participating in the PhD Project: Since 2003, Mendoza has participated in this effort to advance workplace diversity by increasing the diversity of business school faculty. Every regular faculty job is advertised at the PhD project as well as other outlets to “cast a wide net” when searching for faculty recruits. 
I encourage you to read Cindy’s story when the 2021 ND Women Lead feature is posted on Friday, as well as the Mendoza Business magazine story about her research, “The Humility Paradox.” I also encourage you to read about our past International Women’s Day honorees: Ann Tenbrunsel, Hong Guo, Katherine Spiess, Kristen Collett-Schmitt and Viva Bartkus. 

I’m thankful to all of our faculty and staff members who continue to advance the cause of DE&I through their research, teaching, leadership and personal commitment.

In Notre Dame,

Martijn

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