Byrum School of Business

We learned that the namesake of our school, Clark Byrum, passed away Friday, June 2nd. Clark served on the Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2020, receiving emeritus status in 2018. He was actively involved in the Byrum School of Business and enjoyed attending athletic events, especially football games. Please keep his family in your thoughts.

Clark Byrum, Obituary - Indianapolis, IN Celebrate the life of Clark Byrum,, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of .

From the Dean:

Congrats! Today we are ranked as the #11 Undergraduate Catholic Business School ( #58 overall) by 2023 Poets&Quants for Undergrads. We placed just behind ( #47 San Diego, #50 Seton Hall, #51 St. John’s, #54 Dayton, and #56 St. Louis), ahead of #74 Seattle and #77 Duquesne.

This is the third year in a row we received this national ranking. Three categories: Admissions ( #79), Alumni Experience ( #54), and Career Outcomes ( #28), contribute to our overall score. It’s hard to pull up #79 Admissions, because we cast a wide net.

In the next few weeks, P&Q will release more articles and further details on the rankings for each category.

Poets&Quants' Best Undergraduate Business Schools Of 2023 A big surprise at the the top: For the first time in 5 years, Wharton did not win Poets&Quants' annual ranking.

Congratulations to Professor Rumreich!

Poets&Quants For Undergrads - 2022 Best Undergraduate Professors: Lori Rumreich, Marian University Byrum School of Business Lori Rumreich of Marian University Byrum School of Business is a 2022 Poets&Quants Best Undergraduate Business School Professor.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the BSOB!

From Professor Kathy Marra:
Marian University Byrum School of Business competed in the undergraduate HR Case Competition held at Purdue University hosted by the Krannert School of Management on Friday, November 11, 2022. The MU Human Resource Team competed against 7 other undergraduate university HR Teams. Our team assumed the role of HR consultants hired by GE Aerospace to address their attraction and retention strategies due to continual growth and rapid expansion.
Our HR Team presented creative solutions including justification, financial analysis and key performance indicators to a panel of HR leaders addressing the attraction and retention of the Power Plant Technician – Jet Assembly & Overhaul for the Lafayette Indiana Engine Facility location. Congratulations to all team members on their presentation!

From Left to Right:
Row 1: Presenters, Brylee Koontz and Mari Hudson
Row 2: Researcher, Peter Gondeck, Team Leader, Ryan Penry, Presenters, JJ Rivera and Michael Mates and Researcher, Bricem Thompson.

Congratulations BSOB alum Michael Barton!

Michael Barton, CPA - 2022 "40 Under 40" Honoree Michael Barton, CPA – 2022 40 Under 40 Honoree DirectorSikich, LLPhttps://www.sikich.com In December 2016, at the age of just 25, Michael was appointed by

Congratulations to new faculty member and MU alum Madeline Kurcz on achieving her CPA!

Happy Halloween!!!

Kathy Mara Aligns Bachelor of Science in Management with the Human Resource Specialization Degree with the Society for Human Resource Management

Kathy Marra, assistant professor of human resources, aligned Marian University's Bachelor of Science in Management with the Human Resource Specialization degree with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Business majors, especially those who are completing the human resource management concentration, are encouraged to join the Marian student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Click below to learn more.

https://www.marian.edu/academics/byrum-school-of-business/organizations-for-students/shrm-student-chapter?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=In%20a%20Glance%2010.3.22&utm_id=4212617

BUS 109 Crossing the Canyon.

"I wanted to congratulate Kathy Marra on receiving the Paul J. and Debbie Norman Award for Distinction this morning. Newly created, this award was presented to Kathy for her heart for her students and ability to connect with them. She is a distinctive teacher, advisor, and lives out our Marian values.
Congrats!"

Greg Rawski
Dean, Byrum School of Business

A little faculty fun before the first day of classes. Kiss the Bricks!

Congratulations to BSB Alum Brandon Dillon!

New Orleans Saints sign tight end Brandon Dillon He has appeared in five games in the past three seasons

Jim Polito Remains Current With His Own YouTube Channel and Econobits

Associate Professor of Finance and Economic Analysis in the Byrum School of Business, Jim Polito, combines instructional technology, students’ interests, and creativity into his course curriculum. More from Jim:

"I asked students in my fall semester introductory economics class whether they recently had read any news articles discussing any shortfalls with current measures of gross domestic product ("GDP") – a limited measure of economic well-being. Many students responded indicating they frankly rarely read any news articles on any topic. Accordingly, I knew I had to make a greater effort to bring current events into the classroom. I long have maintained a website that I easily could use for this purpose (https://econobits.com). However, I also understand some students, perhaps many students, prefer to obtain news and information from social media sites, such as YouTube. And, in fact, as a cord-cutter, I increasingly had come to rely on YouTube as a source of news, information and entertainment. At the same time, I wished to remain current with advances in communication and educational technologies, and gain familiarity with concepts such as "reach," "engagement," "impressions," and "click-through rates." I suspect I was a bit envious of my colleagues in marketing! And, so, winter break 2022 gave rise to my educational YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_UQNGZIhLnSRMDdEJHzUcg. Generally, the project sought to achieve the following goals: (1) to meaningfully facilitate student learning outcomes by incorporating current events into the classroom environment through appropriate Canvas assignments, (2) to remain current with advances in communication and educational technologies, (3) to positively contribute to social media discourse, and (4) to fulfill a personal passion for reading, writing, creating, and sharing. Upon reflection, I believe the project achieved its goals. As with all assignments, students engaged in varying degrees. Generally, however, the classroom assignment, in and of itself, facilitated students' awareness of current events. Additionally, my experience as a "content creator" has been a wonderful learning exercise and the YouTube channel continues to evolve as I gain greater familiarity with the platform. And, finally, I do believe the channel provides fair and balanced information that contributes positively to social media discourse, while at the same time providing an opportunity to read, write, create, and share."

Faculty Highlight: Katherine Zimmer, Byrum School of Business

The CTL will highlight a faculty or staff member every month in an effort to honor the hard work of our Marian community. This month, we honor Katherine Zimmer, assistant professor of statistics and chairperson for the Instructional Technology Committee. She is finishing her second year at Marian University.

CTL: What inspires your teaching and keeps your job meaningful?
Professor Zimmer: I love teaching statistics because it is such an exciting field about the thrill of discovery and challenging your assumptions. Statistics not only allows you to understand a subject much more deeply, but also facilitates the creation of new knowledge. Most introductory students think that statistics is just a set of methods to collect data, conduct analyses, and effectively present the results. However, throughout their courses in the Byrum School, they see that statistics is a crucial process behind how we make decisions and predictions in the business world.

CTL: What else would you like to share?
Professor Zimmer: If you are looking to expand your 'teaching with technology' skill set, I highly suggest meeting with the CTL team. Each one of them has been an integral part of my teaching experience at Marian! [NOTE: The CTL would like to mention that we did not coerce Katherine into saying this. Although, we think it’s pretty cool she mentioned it.]

Congratulations to Marketing major Madeline Worcester!!!

Two Marian University Students Selected as 500 Festival Princesses
by Glendal Jones | Apr 19, 2022

They are the next generation of leaders and among the best and brightest selected from hundreds of applicants from across Indiana to usher in the month of May. Meet Marian University’s Madeline Worcester ’23 and Katherine Grabowski ‘22, both named 500 Festival Princesses and advocates for the 500 Festival Organization. “I truly have the honor of a lifetime and I am so grateful for the 500 Festival Organization,” Worcester explained. “I was filled with joy and gratitude about being selected to represent Marian University, Guerin Catholic High School, and my hometown of Westfield, Indiana. I can't wait to start my community outreaches and connecting with so many leaders in our great State of Indiana!”

500 Festival Princess Katherine Grabowski, echoes that remark saying her excitement is an understatement. “Being a part of the iconic 500 Festival Princess Program made me so passionate for all the outreach and service opportunities I will be a part of in the months leading up to May,” she said. “From sponsoring events in my hometown of Terre Haute, at Marian University, and around the Indy area, I am looking forward to giving back to the community, sharing the legacy and spirit of the 500 Festival, and of course the Indianapolis 500.”

The 2022 500 Festival Princess Program, presented by the National Bank of Indianapolis, represents 15 Indiana colleges and universities from 22 Indiana cities and towns. Applying isn’t easy either. From the hundreds of applicants selected, only 33 make the cut with their selection based on communications, academic performance, (all 33 princesses have an overall 3.62-grade point average), leadership, community service, and more.

“The 500 Festival is eager to kick off the 2022 season of events with our newly selected princess class,” said Bob Bryant, 500 Festival president and CEO. “We are proud to provide these 33 women with an unforgettable month of May experience where they get the opportunity to learn, lead, and give back to Indiana communities.”

With that said, you can imagine being named a 500 Festival Princess is tough work too. In addition to college studies, activities, and local speaking engagements, they will be given many opportunities to grow professionally and gain mentorship from the 500 Festival Board of Directors and develop leadership skills within their communities. Each 500 Festival Princess also receives a $1,000 scholarship.

“No other race compares to the community organizing, philanthropy, and celebration of the Indy 500, and being a 500 Festival Princess is a way to be a part of that tradition, Grabowski, a senior communications major said. “I hope through my community service efforts and events, I can inspire others to also engage with their communities.”

“My plan of action is to recruit young women to this organization and have many talks with high school and local Indiana college young women to support the 500 Festival Princess Program,” Worcester, a marketing major added. “You also gain a new family and can build strong friendships.”

It’s those connections of creating a lifetime of memories, and meaningful connections 500 Festival Princesses enjoy. Overall, they conduct more than 1,500 community outreaches impacting more than 50,000 people during their statewide program, which educates Hoosiers about the history of the 500 Festival and the legacy of the Indianapolis 500.

“Both of us are really looking forward to race day Memorial Day weekend and the iconic Indy 500 race known all across the world. It really is a dream come true to be a part of it all,” Grabowski added.

To request speaking opportunities, contact 500 Festival Program Director Laura Bliss at [email protected].

Outstanding Achievements: Two Marian University Students Named "Best and Brightest" Nationally

Two Marian University Byrum School of Business seniors are news outlet Poets&Quants for Undergrads “Best and Brightest” Top 100 in business in the nation.

Greg Fulling ’22 , a four-year dean's list member and scholar along with Sandy Sledge ’22 , a current Orr Fellow and scholar are named with the prestigious award based on their academic performance, extracurricular activities, leadership, and potential.

Byrum Marketing Students Rack Up Awards at International Marketing Conference

by News Release | Apr 06, 2022

Byrum School of Business students brought home multiple awards in their inaugural appearance at the American Marketing Association (AMA) International Collegiate Conference held March 16-20 in Chicago, Illinois. The signature event of the conference is the Marketing Case Competition, sponsored by Amazon Prime Student.

A team of Byrum School of Business students placed second and brought home a $2,000 award after presenting their plan to Amazon executives and their marketing agency. More than 1,000 students gathered to hear the competition results. “This experience allowed us to apply what we’re learning about marketing to a real problem. Listening to Amazon executives complementing our work showed us how well the Byrum School of Business has prepared us as future marketers and leaders,” said Jenny Rodriguez ’24, presenter and creative team leader for the competition.

The competition begins each fall by challenging students to develop a marketing strategy and tactical plan to address a real-world marketing objective. University faculty and industry professionals judge submitted written marketing plans from more than 100 student teams from the United States and several other countries. This year the 11 top-scoring plans were selected to present at the conference.

Lori Rumreich, assistant professor of marketing and the team’s faculty advisor, said, “It was a very challenging case that required equal amounts of creativity and analytical thinking. A centerpiece of our students’ strategy was a strong, integrated message that included a focus on social responsibility,” she added. “They applied the skills and values they’ve learned as Marian University students, and we are thankful for this recognition of their hard work.”

In addition to Rodriguez, the Byrum presentation team included Ben Kompar ’22, Alexis Patenaude ’23, and Matthew Riehle ’24.

Temple University’s Fox School of Business placed first. Other finalists in the competition, included the British Columbia Institute of Technology, University of Nevada Las Vegas; University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business, University of Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras, among others.

Additional highly coveted individual and team awards won at the conference included:

AMA Chapter Exhibit competition, second place, Jenny Rodriguez ’24 and Peyton Turner ’22
Sales Role Play Competition sponsored by Sherwin Willams, third place and $100, Alexis Patenaude ’23
Sales Role Play Competition sponsored by Sherwin Willams, third place and $100, Matthew Riehle ’24
Perfect Pitch Competition sponsored by C. H. Robinson, Honorable Mention, Peyton Turner ’22

Marian University's Byrum School of Business Places Second in National Competition

Marian University's Byrum School of Business placed second in the American Marketing Association National Case Competition sponsored by Amazon Prime Student. The team was named one of eleven national finalists in January, allowing them to pitch their marketing plan live to Amazon executives at the national conference in Chicago on March 17. They brought home a $2,000 prize for their second place finish among over 100 of the top-rated business schools in North America.

The Byrum School's Professional Selling Program has also been named to the Sales Education Foundation's (SEF) 2022 list of “Top Universities for Professional Sales Education.” The ranking appears in the 16th edition of the SEF Annual Magazine, utilizing data collected from university sales education programs throughout the world.

Internships The Carmel Christkindlmarkt brings the charm of a long standing European tradition to the heart of Carmel, Indiana. Guests will experience handmade gifts, Germanic inspired food, drink and ice skating.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway College Experience is an event ex*****on program where students are placed on a team and will be an extension of their assigned division. Students work in a variety of operational and premium services event roles designed to enhance the experience of thousands of venue guests.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway College Experience The Indianapolis Motor Speedway College Experience is an event ex*****on program where students are placed on a team and will be an extension of their assigned division. Students work in a variety of operational and premium services event roles designed to enhance the experience of thousands of venu...

Congratulations to Madeline Worcester (Marketing)!!!

2022 Princesses - 500 Festival 2022 500 Festival Princesses The 2022 500 Festival Princesses represent 15 Indiana colleges and universities and 22 cities and towns across the state. With a cumulative GPA of 3.62 this year’s 500 Festival Princesses were selected from hundreds of applicants based on communication skills, academic...

Happy Mardi Gras! Come join us in the Norman Center from 9-11!

Marian University’s Byrum School of Business Named Top 10 Best Catholic Undergraduate Business Schools It's another distinction to be proud of as Marian University’s Byrum School of Business ranked in the top ten among Catholic schools in the Best Undergraduate Business Schools 2022 rankings by Poets&Quants, the leading online publication for undergraduate business education news. This distinction...

Thank you to all the alums who came out to wish Professor Michael Crawford a happy early retirement! Have no fear though. He will still be teaching for one more semester! Congratulations!

Congratulations Accounting alum Michael Barton!

The 2021 CPA Practice Advisor "40 Under 40" Professionals and "20 Under 40" Influencers The awards recognize 40 professionals who are under 40, and have emerged as future leaders in the profession, and 20 who are under 40 and leading the development of technology that serves the profession.

Accounting graduate, Derek James!

Day in the Life of a CPA: Derek James, CPA Day in the Life of Derek James, CPA, manager at Lemler Group, LLC.

https://poetsandquantsforundergrads.com/
Fantastic news!

MU’s Diversity in Leadership program is the lead story on Poets&Quants for Undergrads. The story highlights MU’s Leadership in diversity program as “a model for business schools everywhere”.

Poets&Quants for Undergrads is #1 in viewership among business schools.

If you see Dr. Leon Jackson, tell him great job!

Greg Rawski, Ph.D
Dean, Byrum School of Business

Poets&Quants For Undergrads | News, Rankings, & Advice For Prospective Business Majors Poets&Quants For Undergrads is devoted to news coverage of business schools, undergraduate business majors, college admissions advice, jobs & satisfaction for business majors. P&Q For Undergrads is for students, parents, and business education professionals seeking independent coverage of business e...

Business Analytics and Management majors! Congratulations!