Spears School MBA program develops partnership with Kenyan university

Graduate

STILLWATER, Okla. - The Spears School of Business is developing a doctoral-level partnership with Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya, as part of Oklahoma State University’s Sub-Saharan initiative.

Spears School faculty members Robert Dooley and Federico Aime, recently traveled to Kenya to gain a better understanding of how the Spears School might assist Moi University in developing Ph.D. trained faculty.

“OSU has a memo of understanding with Moi,” said Dooley, Spears School associate dean for graduate programs and research. “Some OSU units are already working with the university. Visitors from Moi’s business school were here in December and our trip was a follow-up to their visit.”

Dooley and Aime are now preparing a proposal that will help Moi University build faculty capacity to meet the growing demand for higher education in Kenya.

“During our visit, we met with university officials on at least six campuses around Kenya to understand their training requirements and met almost all Moi business and economics Ph.D. students to discuss their research plans and needs,” Aime said.

The dean of Moi University’s business school will visit the Spears School in June to finalize the proposal, which will include short Ph.D. seminars at Moi University in Kenya, visits to the Spears School of Business, participation in collaborative research, and dissertation advice for selected Moi University doctoral students.

Additionally, while in Kenya, Dooley and Aime traveled to the village of Kogelo and meet with Sarah Obama, President Barack Obama’s grandmother. The faculty members took her corn meal and milk as a gift for the village.

“I was very honored to have the opportunity to meet Sarah Obama,” Dooley said. She expressed great pleasure that the United States had embraced her grandson, and was taken aback by all of the attention she is now getting.”

Aime added, “Visiting Sarah was great; like in most international trips, roads were rough, but there was also a humbling lesson of American history at the end of those roads.”

Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system that cuts across disciplines to better prepare students for a new world. Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world. The Spears School of Business is dedicated to the original land-grant vision of integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. For more information, call 405-744-5064 or visit spears.okstate.edu.

Graduate Spotlight

Spears School MBA program develops partnership with Kenyan university

STILLWATER, Okla. - The Spears School of Business is developing a doctoral-level partnership with Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya, as part of Oklahoma State University’s Sub-Saharan initiative.

Spears School faculty members Robert Dooley and Federico Aime, recently traveled to Kenya to gain a better understanding of how the Spears School might assist Moi University in developing Ph.D. trained faculty.

“OSU has a memo of understanding with Moi,” said Dooley, Spears School associate dean for graduate programs and research. “Some OSU units are already working with the university. Visitors from Moi’s business school were here in December and our trip was a follow-up to their visit.”

STILLWATER, Okla. - A team of Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business students have earned top honors for the second consecutive year at the annual Big 12 Master's of Business Administration Case Competition. OSU's MBA Case team competed at Baylor University on April 3 and 4 to defend their title.

Team members Nick Ahrens, Preston Pollard, Tommy Christian and Alisonn Phelps were given a real-world case problem which required them to assess the problem, research possible solutions, write a concept proposal and give a presentation on their findings and recommendations - all within 24 hours.

STILLWATER, Okla. - Master’s of business administration students in the Spears School of Business at Oklahoma State University are encouraged to apply for a unique recognition program that focuses on creativity and innovation.

The Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Scholars Program is designed to recognize and involve top students in the MBA program at OSU. Each year, 10 students will be selected for the program through an application and interview process. Those selected will receive a $5,000 scholarship awarded over two semesters.

“I think the scholarship is a great opportunity for students to be involved in projects that will challenge them intellectually and feed their creative nature,” said Jan Analla, assistant director of graduate programs in the Spears School. “It will helps student connect with companies and make an impact on the issues those companies are facing today.”

OSU Masters of Business Administration case team takes home top honors in Big XII competition

The Oklahoma State University case competition team recently won first place at an annual Big 12 competition in Kansas City. The team includes MBA students Tiantian Zhang (left), Jessie Loeffler, Michael Tapley and Matt Quade. Also pictured is Kevin Rauckman, Garmin CFO and treasurer.