Welcome from Dean Kathy Farrell

As we celebrated the fifth anniversary of the opening of Howard L. Hawks Hall this year, we were excited to share this milestone anniversary with the Nebraska Business community. Reflecting over the last five years, we learned a lot about teamwork, big-picture thinking and analytical execution. Our supply chain management and analytics programs focus on building quantitative skills that are vital and in demand. Earlier this year, our Master of Science in Supply Chain and Master of Science in Business Analytics earned a #14 ranking for best online business master’s programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Our faculty are experts in their field who prepare students to lead the future of supply chain management and top researchers who collaborate to find answers to real-world problems.

A few key highlights from this department that I love to share when talking with others include:

• Faculty Collaborate to Create Analytical Model to Impact Obesity
  A major health concern in the United States, obesity has driven some consumers to become more health conscious and led to several public policy interventions affecting consumer trends, the food supply and marketing. Özgür Araz, the Ron and Carol Cope Professor of Supply Chain Managment and Analytics, and S. Sajeesh, associate professor of marketing, recently collaborated to publish interdisciplinary research which examines how food-producing firms should respond and adapt to the evolving consumer trends and policies. View the story.
  
• Students Win National STAFDA Competition in California
  Nebraska students won the national supply chain competition hosted at the Specialty Tool and Fastener Distributor Association (STAFDA) Conference in San Diego. Student teams from universities across the nation simulated the management of a company, with the goal of turning it profitable through supply chain based strategy and decision-making. Through the competition, they gained experience working in purchasing, supply chain, sales and operation. View the story.
  
• Nebraska Graduate Advantage Program Launched to Better Build Workforce
  Through the Nebraska Graduate Advantage Program, the college offers a 15% reduced tuition rate for the online Master of Science in Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management programs. This reduced tuition rate is available to those who graduated with a bachelor's degree from UNL, UNK or UNO in the last five years and had a 3.2 GPA or higher as an undergraduate. The program aims to help remove possible financial barriers to those seeking to enhance their skills and employability while meeting the workforce needs in Nebraska and nationwide for workers with relevant technical skills. More information here.