ALM in Management | Certificate of Management
SPRING 2008

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What’s New in the Management Programs?

A Message from Dean Comeau

Dean Raymond Comeau

This eleventh consecutive edition of Management News has special meaning for me because it is my last as dean of Harvard Extension School’s management programs. Although I will continue as a member of the Extension School’s faculty, teaching courses on management and literature, I have decided, after 27 years, to step down as dean, effective September 1, 2008.

I will be leaving a program that has grown from a regional offering of just 32 courses in 1981–82, to an international certificate and master’s degree curriculum including more than 110 courses today. I am proud to be handing over to my successor a program that, by every important indication—quality of faculty and students, type and variety of courses, and enrollments—has never been stronger. The search for a new dean is under way and will probably be concluded before September.

I thank our three management faculty—Robert Brown, Michael Pirson, and Ines Mergel—who have made a contribution to this edition. I am especially grateful to Robert Brown, who wrote the first piece, “A Profile of Dean Raymond Comeau: Reflections on the Past, Present, and Future.”

The academic year 2007–08 was another successful one in the history of our graduate management programs, with records being set for the total number of courses offered and enrollments. The major reason for the increase in enrollments can be attributed to our master’s degree, now two years old.

On the social side, we continued our tradition of offering fall and spring receptions for candidates and guests in the Library, one of the most beautiful rooms in the Harvard Faculty Club. David Shore, associate dean and executive director of the Center for Continuing Professional Education at the Harvard School of Public Health, and management instructor, was our featured speaker at the fall reception on October 7, 2007. He speech was titled “Transforming Organizations with a Smile (Curve).”

At our spring reception on April 8, 2008, we featured a three-person panel titled “Discussion on Financing the Entrepreneurial Venture.” Participants included Michael Gordon, CEO of the Center for Competitive Success, and a management instructor on entrepreneurship; John Jewett, CSS ’01, managing director of the House Counsel LLC; and Mark Canha, CSS ’98, the principal of Prism Venture Works LLC. Both receptions attracted a full house.

The 2008 Management Commencement ceremony on June 5 took place under cloudy skies—it never rains on a Harvard Commencement, remember? And Lowell Hall was again filled to capacity with about 400 graduates, their relatives, and guests. The management class of 2008 numbered 139, 34 from the Certificate in Management (CM) Program and 105 from the Master of Liberal Arts in Management (ALMM) Program. The class of 2008 included 80 international students from 33 countries, from countries such as India with 16 graduates, Brazil with 10 graduates, Chile and Mexico with 5 graduates each, and Venezuela with 3 graduates.

Four graduates won awards or prizes. Roberto Armando Guerra was the recipient of the Derek Bok Public Service Prize, which recognizes “creative initiatives in community service or long-standing records of civic achievement.” The Katie Yang Prize, recognizing “the initiative, character, and outstanding academic achievement of an international student in the CM Program,” was awarded to Maria Amelia Lopes Sampaio from Brazil. The Phyllis Strimling Award, recognizing “the character and achievement of a management graduate who has used or is planning to use the management experience for the advancement of women in society,” went to Jacqueline Nkiruta Uchendo Mordi. The Harold V. Langlois Outstanding Student Award was given to Carolina Pires de Aguiar.

The management program outstanding faculty award, The Joanne Fussa Distinguished Teaching Award, was given to Francis Aguilar, professor of business administration emeritus at the Harvard Business School, who has been teaching MGMT E-110 General Managers in Action since 2002. Finally, the Dean’s Distinguished Service Award was given to yours truly for 27 years of service to the Extension School. We were honored to have as our guest speaker Jonathan Abbott, president and CEO of WGBH Educational Foundation, who shared ideas for maintaining a balance in one’s personal and professional life.

In closing, I want to remind you that Management News appears online only. If you change your e-mail address, please be sure to send us your updated one immediately at clark@dcemail.harvard.edu so you will receive the newsletter next year. Finally, I join the Management Office staff—Delia Gerraughty, Donna Clark, and Eileen O’Dea—in wishing you much happiness and success. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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