ASU awards scholarships for sustainability leaders

September 30, 2016

Through funding provided by the Rob and Melani Walton Fund of the Walton Family Foundation, Arizona State University will award a limited number of scholarships of up to $15,000 to professionals applying to the Executive Master of Sustainability Leadership (EMSL) program. The admissions application deadline for those who wish to be considered for this scholarship is Nov. 30.

The online program, offered by the ASU School of Sustainability and administered through the ASU Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives, equips professionals from all ranks within an organization with the knowledge and real-world experiences needed to accelerate their careers in sustainability. ASU Executive Master of Sustainability Leadership Class of 2016 during their week-long international immersive in The Netherlands. Download Full Image

The next cohort begins in January 2017 and integrates three in-person workshops with the online learning experience, including a weeklong international immersive in The Netherlands, where students have the opportunity to connect with an elite network of sustainability experts and leaders.

The 13-month program covers four specific themes: global context, strategy, communication and leadership. Each theme is split up amongst four expert faculty members offering students a balance of perspectives between seasoned academics, respected thought leaders and innovative practitioners.

“This Executive Master program was created to fill a leadership gap, equipping students with the skills they needed to lead their organization’s success using sustainability as a core driver,” said George Basile, EMSL professor and Senior Sustainability Scientist at the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability. “At the core of this program is transformation – in both our students and the organizations they go on to advance through sustainability practice.”

Recent graduates currently fill positions such as CEO, sustainability manager, municipal principal planner and senior director of recycling and technology with organizations such as American Express, Republic Services, Accenture, Cummins INC, American Red Cross and municipalities in California and Arizona.

“EMSL strikes the correct balance between traditional academics, online learning and in-person immersive sessions,” said Jamie Cook, 2016 EMSL graduate and director of Renewable Energy Projects for Maui Electric in Hawaii. “EMSL has given me the knowledge, connections and confidence to my career to new heights.”

To be considered for the 2017 cohort and scholarship, applicants must submit a full application, including an answer to the scholarship essay question, by Nov. 30. Scholarship recipients will be selected based on their complete application after their admission to the program.

Former ASU professor named new business dean at University of Missouri

Ajay Vinzé, who previously served as the Earl and Gladys Davis Distinguished Professor in the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, has been appointed as the new dean of the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business at University of Missouri. While at ASU, Vinzé also served as associate dean of international programs in the W. P. Carey School of Business and the associat...

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Former ASU professor named new business dean at University of Missouri

September 30, 2016

While at ASU, Vinzé also served as associate dean of international programs in the W. P. Carey School of Business and the associate vice provost for graduate education. The appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2017. Ajay Vinze Download Full Image

“We’re very fortunate to have attracted a leader of Dr. Vinzé’s caliber to serve as our business dean,” University of Missouri Provost Garnett Stokes said. “His experience in the field of information systems and educational curriculum development as well as his outstanding experience as an academic leader will help him position the Trulaske College of Business to continue its record of success. I’m looking forward to working with him as MU continues to prepare students to face the ever-changing dynamics of the business world.”

Vinzé joined the ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business in 1998, after serving on the faculty of the Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University for 10 years. During his tenure at ASU, Vinzé served in several leadership positions, including as director of the Management Information Systems doctoral program; founder of the Center for Advancing Business through Information Technology in the School of Business; and as the director of the Executive Masters of Business Administration Program. Most recently, he directed international initiatives and global academic partnerships for the business school and also more broadly for ASU.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead a vibrant business school like the Trulaske College of Business,” Vinzé said.

“I am looking forward, with great enthusiasm, to joining the Mizzou family and working with high caliber faculty, dedicated staff and a wonderful student body! We live in exciting times. Business education and associated expectations are being redefined through complex interactions between technology innovations, globalization, demographic changes and new fiscal realities. Trulaske capabilities coupled with broader academic strengths at Mizzou, and with the support of alumni and business stakeholders, I am confident that we will be ready and well-positioned to succeed. I am looking forward to an interesting and exciting journey together!”

Vinzé has a long history of academic research, focusing on topics including data analytics, emergency preparedness and response, disruptive innovation, economic value of information and computer technology investments, and collaborative computing. His research emphasizes the importance of technology innovation and organizational relevance.

Vinzé also has extensive experience in the private sector, including serving on the board of directors for ISSC (a Taiwanese microchip corporation); serving as manager for a team that designed, developed and implemented a support system and database for the distribution of more than 1.5 million doses of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine; and serving as a member of the Super Bowl Public Health and Healthcare Workgroup for Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz.

In 2008, Vinzé was named a Fulbright Senior Scholar, which was extended through 2014. Vinzé also currently serves as an executive board member for the Education Quality Accreditation Agency (EQUAA), which is an accreditation agency for higher education institutions in Latin America. He also earned the Faculty Excellence Award from ASU in 2012 for his outstanding faculty contributions.

Vinzé graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Delhi, a master’s of business administration from the University of Connecticut, and a doctorate in business administration from the University of Arizona.

Vinzé replaces Stephen Ferris, who has served as interim dean of the Trulaske College of Business since Joan Gabel left the position to become the provost at the University of South Carolina in summer 2015.