Fordham Holds Panel Discussion on Cuban-American Relationship
Fordham University recently hosted a panel discussion of experts on the relationship between Cuba and the United States. The event was held on Sept. 16 at the Fordham Lincoln Center campus. The event was organized by Gabelli School of Business professor Marcia Flicker, an associate professor of marketing at the school. The panel discussion featured insight in to the Cuban-America relationship for foreign investors and local entrepreneurial efforts for maintaining the new positive relationship between the two countries.
The panel featured three experts on the Cuban business world as well as the relationship history between Cuba and the U.S. The panel included, French entrepreneur Michel Villand, Gabelli alumnus Alvaro Sainz Ortiz and Vito Echevarria, a New York-based freelance journalist. Michel Villand recently published a book detailing his successful ten year venture with the Cuban government. Alvaro Sainz Ortiz recently worked for a global music company and shared his insights in to the special challenges that American firms face when dealing with Cuba. Vito Echevarria, who contributes to the Cuba Standard, covers the problems faced by and news related to the Cuban economy.
Gabelli Offers New Healthcare Management Certificate Program
The Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University has added a new Executive Education program to its curriculum. The first part of the new Post-Master’s Healthcare Management certificate program will be offered in October of this year and the second part of the program will be held in February of next year. The program will focus on a public health approach to long term care for terminally ill patients.
The certificate program is designed for health care providers and managers who already have a master’s degree or are currently enrolled in a masters degree program. The program will take place over two weekends, Oct. 16-19 and Feb. 12-15, 2016. The course will touch on topics including, public health and healthcare management, law and ethics, the foundations of pain management care, gerontological care in the healthcare management field and health systems management and innovation.
Gabelli EMBA Students Give Chinese Investors Real Estate Advice
The cohort of executive MBA students at the Gabelli School of Business recently advised the China-based lender CreditEase on the best places for Chinese investment in real estate. The consulting project was part of the EMBA program’s capstone course. The cohort of students gave a presentation to the company on August 19, at the firm’s headquarters in Beijing. For the project, students were asked to identify which U.S. cities offer Chinese investors the best potential return on investment in residential real estate.
The 22 student cohort conducted extensive market research to find the best answer for their client. The result of the research was the recommendation of five US locations; New York City (Queens and the Bronx), Philadelphia, Seattle, Houston and San Francisco. One student in the cohort, Colin Cassidy, explained in a press release for Gabelli that the areas chosen were based on specific criteria for their research, such as how quickly the area recovered from the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the local economy’s strength, unemployment rates, real estate taxes and rent-to-buy ratios.
Fordham Holds CIO Roundtable Discussion on Technology Needs
Fordham University recently held the Fordham CIO Roundtable, organized by Gabelli School of Business Associate Professor Aditya Saharaia. The Roundtable, which gathered Chief Information Officers and other IT Professionals from Fordham, discussed the issues that a large university faces in order to provide the technology needed for all students faculty and staff.
Frank Sirianni, the Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Fordham University explained that the task was not an easy one but the University meets the challenge through constant efforts to rethink procedures and to provide innovative solutions. He specifically mentioned one of Fordham University’s IT innovations to move to cloud-based management systems.
Gabelli Creates New Student Book Club
The Gabelli School of Business will start a new book club for students in the fall. This new club will give students the opportunity to come together to read the published research and writings of Fordham University professors. Students in the club will be given books free of charge, along with a study guide from the author.
The program was created by Greer Jason-DiBartolo, assistant dean for freshmen at the Gabelli School and Lisa Green, the manager of the undergraduate integrated core curriculum. The club will consist of about 10 to 12 students. Jason-DiBartolo said that if there is a big interest in the club, they will see if the professors could expand to holding two discussions so that the group remains small enough to keep students engaged.
Gabelli Dean Interviewed by NBCNews About Value of MBA
Donna Rappacioli, Dean of the Gabelli School of Business was recently interviewed by NBC news on whether or not a MBA degree is still a good investment. Dean Rappacioli explained to NBC how although MBA applications have decreased in general, and the need for two-year on-campus programs have changed, getting a MBA degree is still better for your future career goals.
Dean Rappacioli addresses the issue of the declining value of an MBA in her interview. She explains that although the number of people getting a MBA degree has declined, the value of the degree has not. ” What we are doing at Fordham is marrying the important technical skills but also the soft leadership skills,” Rappacioli said. “Employers tell me every day, that they need people who can solve problems, people that work in team, people that are really comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity; and these are the things that we have built in to the curriculum.”
