An Unforgettable Year at the Knauss School of Business

When the 2021-22 academic year began, the energy on campus was palpable — eagerly returning to the University of San Diego’s beautiful campus, the campus community was brewing with hope and cautious optimism. And what a year it’s been! Students returned with vigor, ready to make an immediate impact on campus and on their academic development. Business faculty and staff dove right in and initiated as many opportunities as possible to reconnect with students who may have struggled with the remote learning environment.

Now that the year has come to a close, it’s time to reflect back on all of the amazing accomplishments of our students, faculty and staff this year, feats that have made this past year unforgettable.

Construction of Knauss Center for Business Education Makes Leaps and Bounds, Students and Alumni Tour Grounds

Construction began in April 2021 on the Knauss Center for Business Education, a brand new 120-000-square-foot complex located in the heart of USD’s campus. In just one year, progress has been tremendous as students, faculty and staff have watched the building transform right before our very eyes. Informed by a vision of business stewardship and designed to foster collaboration, the Knauss Center will open for classes this fall and will house the entire Knauss School of Business, currently spread out across multiple buildings on campus. 

Throughout the year, alumni, students and special guests were invited on tours to get a glimpse of the construction in action while envisioning future classes, events, and meetings taking place in the building’s new spaces including the Innovation Catalyzer, Nexus Theater, Data Analytics Lab, team collaboration pods, to name a few. 

Students Return to Campus, Events Resume

The University of San Diego campus re-opened for classes last fall, after a much anticipated post-COVID return. And although there were some bumps along the way causing several events to remain virtual, a few of the Knauss School of Business’ signature events were able to welcome attendees to campus including the USD Legacy Entrepreneurship Conference in September, Fowler Business Concept Challenge in November, and the first-ever combined Venture Vetting (V2) Pitch Competition and Seven-by-Seven event in April.

Business Student Success Center Levels Up Student Resources

The Knauss School of Business Student Success Center is a new department introduced this year bringing together existing and new student resources including academic advisors, student professional development managers and the business academic success team. Under this new structure, every declared business major and business graduate student gets to be assigned an academic advisor to guide them on their academic journey as well as a student professional development manager to support their future career goals. 

Student professional development managers have already made an immense impact this year via hundreds of career coaching sessions and as advisors for the business school’s student clubs and organizations. In recognition for her efforts as a student professional development manager, April Cash was recognized by USD Student Activities and Involvement as Advisor of the Year. 

USD’s Business School Named the Knauss School of Business

In early December 2021, USD Board Chairman Don Knauss, and his wife, Ellie, increased their philanthropic giving to the University of San Diego to total $50 million. In honor of their remarkable gift, the business school was named the Knauss School of Business. The Knauss’ shared that they “really believe wholeheartedly in the mission of the school. If you look at the mission statement, the last phrase is, ‘preparing leaders dedicated to ethical conduct and compassionate service.’ And that’s what this is all about.”

Business Students Reignite Campus Community 

Students showed a reinvigorated commitment to building community on campus. With the support of student professional development managers, they launched five new business student clubs this year: Grad Women in Business, Management Consulting Association, Undergrad Women in Business, Business Administration Society and Minorities in Business. Two of these have already received recognition from USD — Business Administration Society won the New/Emerging Organization award and Undergrad Women in Business won the Excellence in Inclusion award. Together, these two clubs hosted the impressive “CEO Experience” event on campus with ULTA CEO, Mary Dillon. 

New Knauss MBA, Business Analytics Major

In response to growing student demand for the business analytics minor, a business analytics major was launched this year making USD the only San Diego university to offer a trio of business analytics programs — a major, a minor and a graduate program. 

Earlier this semester, the new Knauss MBA was announced featuring a revised curriculum and additional student benefits for cohorts beginning in Fall 2022. Now more relevant, streamlined and personalized than ever, the revamped curriculum builds on existing core strengths of the program while adopting a greater focus on emerging trends and greater applied learning experiences through the required global and social impact consulting classes. 

Centers Strengthen Ties with San Diego Business Community

Knauss School of Business centers and institutes represent the school’s ties with the local business community. While they have a commitment to fostering student opportunities for professional development, they were also charged with strengthening business relationships this year and bolstering their status as local thought leaders. In doing so, the Supply Chain Management Institute and Burnham-Moores Center held several virtual conferences including the annual SCMI Fall Forum, BMC Real Estate Conference and SCMI Spring Symposium. 

In alignment with the Ahlers Center for International Business reimagined mission to bolster prosperity and global commerce in the San Diego region, it recruited for the second cohort of the Global Readiness Program and launched the Global Market Navigator Program. 

And The Brink Small Business Development Center was named an Inclusive Innovation Hub by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. The designation earned the center a $250,000 grant to implement a 3-year strategy to stimulate partnerships, economic development, and job creation focused — all in support of new innovation businesses headed by diverse founders.

Business Professors Lauded with Awards

Business professors at USD are known to be both thought leaders in their academic arenas and mentors to business students, fostering relationships that endure long after they graduate. This year, several business professors were recognized for their contributions to academia as well as the support they offer students. USD awarded a University Professorship to Economics Professor Stephen Conroy and a Clarence L. Steber Professorship to Associate Professor of Operations Ruixia Shi. Supply Chain Management Professor Simon Croom was named a USD Laudato Si Fellow. 

Professor of Business Law Linda Barkacs was named Most Inspirational Professor by USD Student Support Services, Clinical Professor of International Business Eileen Daspro won Knauss School of Business Professor of the Year, and both Daniel F. Mulvihill Endowed Chair Charles Tu and Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management David Pyke were recognized as Professors of the Year by the Graduate Business Student Association.

USD Students Enjoy Inaugural Business Bazaar

Following Easter Break, the Knauss School of Business invited undergraduate USD students of all majors to the Business Bazaar where they enjoyed a lunchtime barbecue and root beer floats. Students also had the opportunity of speaking with Knauss School staff to learn about business student resources and graduate business degree opportunities, as well as get their resumes reviewed on the spot. This is the Knauss School’s first-ever major event for all USD students with hopes of becoming an annual gathering.

Knauss School of Business Holds Strong in University Rankings

The Knauss School of Business continued to perform well in university rankings this year and once again, placed among U.S. News & World Report’s 100 Best Undergraduate Business Programs. The real estate program also debuted in the #11 spot of best real estate programs while the Master’s in Supply Chain Management moved up 10 spots in this year’s graduate school rankings.

The Knauss School also continued its streak for the fifth year in a row as a top 50 business school in the Poets&Quants 2022 Best Undergraduate Business School Rankings.