School of Business

Buffett praises professor

The world's second richest man, Warren Buffett, publicly praised the work of a KU finance professor at the 2006 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. Buffett is CEO of the company, which posted $82 billion in annual revenues for 2005. The complimentary words were said of Mark Hirschey, the Anderson W. Chandler professor of business.

Hirschey has taken students to the annual meeting for more than 15 years. For the past two years, Hirschey also procured private meetings for KU business students with Buffett.

Whitney Tilson, who owns and manages an investment fund, transcribed Buffett's comments at the meeting. Recording devices weren't allowed, but Tilson recalls that Buffett said, "Twenty-five years ago, schools tended not to stray too far from the efficient-markets orthodoxy that not only wouldn't do students any good, but might even get them in trouble. I think it's better today. Professor Hirschey has done a great job at [the University of Kansas]."

Hirschey said he felt honored to be publicly commended by such a distinguished investor and businessman.

500 receive business degrees

Nearly 500 students graduated from the School of Business on May 19. About 350 students earned bachelor's degrees, close to 120 received master's degrees, and eight doctoral degrees were awarded.

At the ceremony, Kriston Guillot, from Shawnee, spoke on behalf of the undergraduates, and Erin Koksal, from Garden City, spoke for the graduate student body. Thirteen student awards were also presented to seniors and master's students at the ceremony.

A job well done

(l to r) Janet Lukehart, Mike Ettredge, Jim Guthrie, Raquel Alexander, Anne Madden Johnson

The School of Business honored exceptional employees at May's graduation. Associate Dean Keith Chauvin presented the awards to faculty members: Tim Shaftel, Undergraduate Business Council Outstanding Educator Award; Charles Krider, Graduate Business Council Outstanding Educator Award; Jim Heintz, Ph.D. Outstanding Mentor Award; Surendra Singh, Ph.D. Outstanding Mentor Award; Dennis Rosen, Beta Gamma Sigma Outstanding Educator Award; Tom Jindra, g'01, Henry A. Bubb Award for Outstanding Teaching; and Parker Lessig, c'64, g'66, PhD'70, Gordon Fitch Faculty Service Award.

At a separate event, Anne Madden Johnson, '82, network manager, was given the Beth Bovee Staff Excellence Award, and faculty members Raquel Alexander, Mike Ettredge and Jim Guthrie, e'74, g'77, DE'01, were honored with Guy O. and Rosa Lee Mabry Best Research Papers Awards. Janet Lukehart received the Staff Appreciation Award.

Professors earn high distinction

Parker Lessig and Joseph Reitz

The KU School of Business acknowledged two of its own during May's graduation with Distinguished Alumni Awards. The ceremony recognized Parker Lessig, c'64, g'66, PhD'70, Frank S. Pinet distinguished teaching professor, and Joseph Reitz, b'60, professor and director of the International Center for Ethics in Business.

In 1998, the school created the Distinguished Alumni Award to honor outstanding graduates. Recipients are chosen from nominations by alumni and the school's board of advisors. Candidates are nominated based on their leadership, business contributions, and involvement within the community and the school.

Lessig earned his MBA and doctoral degrees from the school. His dissertation won the prestigious American Marketing Association Doctoral Dissertation Competition, which recognizes the best marketing doctoral dissertation of the year. After a short stint at Washington State University, he returned to KU as an associate professor in 1972. Four years later he was promoted to full professor. He has written more than 60 articles and papers and has published in all of the major scholarly journals in his field. Lessig has held numerous administrative roles for the school and has devoted years of service to the Boy Scouts of America.

Reitz graduated with honors from the school in 1960. He served in the United States Marine Corps after graduation and later earned his MBA and doctoral degrees from Indiana and MIT, respectively. Reitz joined the school in 1988. He co-founded the International Center for Ethics in Business in 1991. Reitz has authored five books and numerous articles. He is currently president of Douglas County Kansans for Life and serves on the board of Midwest Student Ministries.