It’s that time of year again. School is back in session and that can only mean one thing. College football. Ok, and academics and learning too. The University of Washington is alive with the influx of returning and new students. It’s an exciting time.
I had the privilege of attending the opening season football game between my beloved Dawgs (Huskies) and Boise State. This year, the University of Washington has a brand new stadium equipped with state of the art screens, a section just for the students, and a fantastic set of suites that rival any professional stadium.
The Dawgs kicked things off right with a win at home, inducting our new stadium with a victory.
Yes, things are changing at my alma mater, and that includes me taking on a whole new role with the school this year. I am honored that the Foster Business School has asked me to take on this year’s Fritzky Chair. I have agreed and am looking forward to spending more time with the students.
The Fritzky Chair began in 2003, making this the 10th year. Ed Fritzky is a local business person who had a vision to grow leaders at Foster by engaging local business leaders with the Foster students. The Fritzky chair is selected each year by the Foster Business School dean’s office and is expected to contribute ideas and time mentoring students for the duration of a year. Typically, the Fritzky Chair has focused on the graduate students. However, I will be changing things a bit, as I’ve been known to do from time to time. The undergraduates are a very important group to me, so I will be expanding the role to mentor undergrads as well as grad students.
This new role will bring me to Seattle and the UW campus more often. I will have office hours and will be on campus twice a month. In addition, I will get to speak at a couple of classes per month, presenting real case scenarios from the business world. I don’t think they’re going to give me tenure. I’m just hoping I won’t blow up their fine in-class A/V system. I’m not known for my technical abilities, after all.
I’m looking forward to spending more time at UW and getting to know the students. If you happen by the Foster School of Business, you can find me here, in my new office. Got my name on the door and everything. It’s legit!