Letter From the Dean

When I became the Albert O. Nicholas Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business in 2011, the higher education industry was experiencing major disruption. With technology bringing changes to the delivery of learning, the value of a residential education was being called into question. At the same time, expectations of continued decline in state funding were forcing a rethink of our funding model.

These shifting sands challenged us to redefine the value the Wisconsin School of Business provides to our stakeholders. We began by increasing the reach of our undergraduate program to serve more students and address employers’ demands. Leveraging the growth of our undergraduate program, we are making strategic investments to better partner with the business community. We are bringing together business leaders and academic scholars to define questions that will guide our research and inform learning outcomes in every course, major, and degree. With this partnership, we are better positioned to produce the insights and talent of value to the market and the world.

None of this progress would be possible without the support of our dedicated community of alumni and friends. Within the following pages, you will see the indelible impact of alumni participation in our applied learning experiences, new class offerings, and research activities. We tell the stories of alumni and friends from all over the world who are doing great things and touching many lives. Their unique stories and perspectives embody the essence of our community—diverse, passionate, and successful.

Together with our faculty, staff, and students, you have helped us validate our vision to redefine the partnership between the public research university and the business community. With great partners like you, I am increasingly confident in the path we have chosen. I feel privileged to be a part of this powerful community, and I am excited about the opportunities ahead of us.

Together Forward,

— François Ortalo–Magné
Albert O. Nicholas Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business