On Oct. 14, Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business Dean Miles Davis, Ph.D., took to the Shenandoah University Alumni Association Facebook page to livestream his “State of The Business School Address.” Since then, his speech has racked up more than 2,000 views.
In his speech, Dr. Davis, who has been at the university for a decade and Byrd dean since 2012, noted how communication with alumni is key for universities. Alumni asked Davis questions in real time as part of the livestream event. One viewer asked, “How do we grow alumni connections and events in other states – such as Georgia?” Davis said that he’s open to traveling to host events, but added that to sustain alumni groups, contact people must act as liaisons between the university and local alumni.
Davis smiled when asked whether an alumni cruise had been considered as a way to connect with graduates. While he didn’t speak to taking the high seas, he did say that he’d love to see more alumni reconnect with Shenandoah by participating in the university’s Global Experiential Learning trips.
In response to another question, Davis revealed that an e-commerce site, which would sell Byrd School of Business-branded items, is in the works. Candice Hopkinson asked, “When a graduate experiences difficulty with finding a career, should they reach back out to SU for help?” Dr. Davis said, certainly. He also encouraged job-seeking alumni to stay in touch with Shenandoah professors and staff, who can offer both job resources and references for graduates they know. Davis then recounted how he once could not provide a requested recommendation because he wasn’t familiar with the former student who requested it – that person hadn’t kept in touch.
While he heard from alumni as part of the live online event (they offered plenty of encouragement and thanks), Davis also had some practical advice for students, encouraging them to find mentors and complete internships. “I find that students who complete an internship obtain a greater success rate,” he said.
And, creating successful alumni is the goal of the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business.
