Envisioning the Next 30 Years at AU and for Our Students

NOTE: We are sharing Dean David Marchick's note sent to all faculty and staff to welcome them to the new school year. 

Most of us are focused on the next 30 minutes of our day or possibly the next 30 days. I hope you might take a moment to envision the next 30 years and how what you are doing today will shape Kogod and our students’ lives for the next 30 years. 

I raise this topic because Professors Erran Carmel, Michael Mass, Frank DuBois, and H. Kent Baker shared some fascinating memories and reflections with me on life at Kogod in 1994—30 years ago, before the internet and smartphones. Some nuggets from their piece: 

• Students registered by filling out a paper form with three copies (one for the student, one for the academic advisor, and one for the registrar) and waiting in long lines at the Registrar’s office;
• Students lugged around 5-pound textbooks for each class;
• The internet was just becoming a “thing” in 1994—but no one knew what it would become;
• In-class presentations were displayed on plastic sheets projected on the screen by a light;
• Kogod was located in the Batelle building;  
• Here is a small world—Kogod’s graduation speaker that year was Ambassador Mickey Kantor, the United States Trade Representative at the time. Back then, I was his 28-year-old Special Assistant, writing speeches and carrying his bags!
• Faculty, staff, and students smoked (only cigarettes, hopefully) on campus— together! 

Thirty years ago, Bill Clinton was President and Newt Gingrich was elected Speaker of the House. General Motors was the most valuable company in the world. Indeed, not one of the top 20 companies (by market cap) today was on the list in 1994.  Change is inevitable. 

30 years ago, Amy Kothari just finished her MBA at Kogod. She went on to start and sell several companies and now serves on the board of trustees at American University. Gary Veloric’s startup was just starting up. Today, the Veloric Center is training the next generation of entrepreneurs. Jason Kra, a Kogod 1993 graduate, started an apparel business in 1994. After growing and merging his business, he now runs a $10b global apparel manufacturing business. Today, Jason is a leader on the Kogod Advisory Council and an adjunct faculty member, teaching the next generation of Jason Kras. A young man named Tommy White was in his sixth year of his MBA studies—trying not to get kicked out of the program—while starting his third company. Today, Tommy is the Director of the Veloric Center for Entrepreneurship. Today’s students will be tomorrow’s leaders.