The College of Arts and Sciences will launch the Master of Arts in Professional Science Management and Leadership program this fall. The graduate program was designed for scientists and engineers who want to develop their managerial and leadership skills.

When College of Arts and Science's leaders asked regional biotech leaders about their greatest educational needs, the first answer was "more bench scientists," so Webster set up an undergraduate biotech program, which is already beyond capacity. The second answer was "help in converting scientists into manager of scientists," and this new program addresses that need.

Subject areas include: effective communication skills, team collaboration and leadership, conflict resolution, budgetary processes, legal issues related to research and development, ethics, marketing tools and analysis, product development and project management. All of these are customized for the scientific setting.

The College is interested in drawing a wide audience of potential students concerned with science, inventions, bio-sciences and patents — specifically, technical people like engineers and scientists — who need management and leadership skills they may not have. The program would be of special interest, for example, to those with undergraduate degrees in biology who now find themselves in charge of groups of 20 to 30 people.

"As part of our long-standing commitment to the St. Louis scientific community, we will continue to partner with industry leaders to develop academic programs that meet their changing needs," said David Carl Wilson, dean, College of Arts and Sciences.

Classes in the new graduate program will begin Fall 1, 2006, at the Old Post Office campus.

In partnership with the Academy of Science-St. Louis, the College of Arts and Sciences kicked off its Science Leadership Speaker Series in February at the newly opened Old Post Office Campus.

The speaker series is a way to bring area scientists and engineers together to examine biotech industry issues. It also serves to introduce the College's new master's degree program to the community.

Mary Burke, executive director, Academy of Science, worked with Arts and Sciences' dean's office in planning and procuring speakers. She also served on the panel of area educational and business leaders that helped develop the new master's degree program. Burke earned her bachelor's degree in communications at Webster and is currently pursuing a master's in management at Webster.

To learn more about the Academy of Science click here.

"We're at one of those unique times when, not only is the biotech area exploding, but everyone is aware of it," Burke said. "The St. Louis area can help prepare the next generation to keep this region strong and to develop a reputation that this is where to come to establish your business."

The speaker series received high marks from area scientists and business people who attended the first two sessions. The Feb. 7 Nidus Center Seminar on, moderated by Nidus president and CEO Robert Calcaterra, focused on innovative ways for start-up companies to obtain funding. Panelists included Paul Olivo, CEO, Apath; Victoria Gonzalez, COO, Graphic Surgery; and, Derek Rapp, CEO, Divergence.

Nidus Seminar panel members (l to r) Robert Calcaterra, Paul Olivo, Victoria Gonzalez and Derek Rapp.

Gregg Bogosian, senior research fellow and research director of agricultural biotechnology at Monsanto, attended both sessions. "The speakers program is wonderful," he said. "I learned a great deal, got a great deal of insight, and now look at things in a way I never had before."

Bogosian always assumed if someone had a good idea, it wouldn't be too hard to get it launched. "From these sessions, I learned that is not true," he said. "I see now it is much more difficult than I had ever imagined."

"The question is, then, do many good ideas just wither away? If we, as scientists, want our endeavors to lead to a better world, we would hate to see good ideas get dropped for lack of planning or funding."

Bogosian said at a place like Monsanto ideas can flourish because the support is there. But the bigger battle is taking the idea forward as a start-up.

Another topic Bogosian found compelling was "the remarkable argument that it may become necessary for key personnel in a company to step aside when the time is right.

"Somebody might be good at moving the idea forward and moving through the initial testing," he added. "But when it comes time to go public, a new partner with a product development background might need to take the reins."

Another attendee at the Nidus Seminar was Joe Blechl, associate director of logistics planning at Centocor Biologies LLC, who was part of the group who helped develop the new master's degree program.

Blechl said the speaker series provides a good opportunity to learn about the skills and insights necessary to start a company. It also offers the opportunity to network with key people in the science and technology community, he said.

Burke said she likes the way the speaker programs flow into each other. The first covered funding for a start-up biotech firm; the second, how to build your business; the third, preparing for the time you exit; and, the fourth will cover patents.

"What I love about these panels is that they are completely unscripted," Burke said. "It's kind of like a fireside chat. Attendees were leaning forward, engaged in the program and really taking it in."

The next session in the biotech speaker series is April 4 at the Old Post Office campus. The topic will be "Science Leadership: Successful Entrepreneur Exit Strategies."

For information or to register for future programs click here.

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Contributed by Patrick Powers

Russ Mitchell speaking at SBT speaker series event.

Much has changed since Webster Groves-native Russ Mitchell donned the oversized glasses he wore as a student journalist in the early 1980s.

"When I started this job, the television landscape was a whole lot different," Mitchell, co-anchor of The Saturday Early Show on CBS, said at the School of Business and Technology's Success to Significance Speakers Series event March 2.

In those days, families still gathered around the television to watch the likes of Walter Cronkite, CNN was in its infancy and the World Wide Web was a dream. Today, world news is delivered in seconds and is never more than a click away.

The globalization of communications is a good thing, Mitchell said, but it raises the stakes for those committed to providing quality television news programs in the mold of Cronkite and others.

Globalization also means consumers must seek out and find communicators who recognize that communicating is more than what is said, but what is heard. "Russ Mitchell is one of these rare and trusted voices in America today," said Dean Benjamin Akande, School of Business and Technology.

And although the line between journalism and entertainment gets more blurred all the time, Mitchell said, his ultimate goal remains the same, to be "... clear, concise, objective and informative in a format that viewers understand."

During his recent visit to Webster University, Mitchell demonstrated his point by showing an interview he conducted with the late comedian Richard Pryor. The segment painted a complex portrait of a man balancing his life between success and failure.

"I'm the luckiest guy ever," Mitchell said. "I can't believe I get to do this job."

The next guest in the Success to Significance Speaker Series will be Anheuser-Busch President August Busch IV, who will address leadership and change in the beer industry at 10 a.m., April 4, in the Moore Auditorium at Webster Hall.

For more information about the speaker series, log on to http://www.webster.edu/depts/business/akande/speakerseries.html

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"There was something for everyone," said Barb Ehnes, director, Community Relations and Media Relations, about this year"s WSA professional development day.

With five workshops to choose from, attendees could learn how to unleash their inner iron Gorlok; laugh away stress with yoga; live mindfully through journaling; maximize performance with healthy eating; and explore five keys to work and life fitness.

Marlene Chertok, BSN (in front wearing green sweater) leads laughing yoga session. Photo by Claudia Burris.

Connie Knox, academic advisor, Winghaven Campus, who attended the journal-writing workshop, said, "I found it to be a unique combination of upbeat insightfulness, relaxation and reflection. The time spent journaling was particularly engaging because of recent personal losses."

In addition to the workshops, luncheon speaker Wendy Wiese's talk, "When Life Gives You Lemons ..." was a big hit with attendees. "Her humor was just what I needed," said Knox. "Wendy Weise was hilarious," echoes Ehnes. "She was open and forthcoming about her career."

Wendy Wiese smiles for the camera at professional development day luncheon. Photo by Claudia Burris.

Weise's self-deprecating humor and mugging for the camera when her photo was taken were a hit with the luncheon audience, who particularly enjoyed the anecdote she shared about her initial interview with KMOX radio when she was 24 years old. After using the expression, "When life gives you lemons, make lemon juice," she was embarrassed to learn she got the saying wrong and should have said, "... make lemonade."

"My overall impression of the Professional Development Day program was that it was done with expertise, organization and a genuine interest in sharing helpful information," said Knox.

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Susan Ross, assistant registrar and alumni/development associate, Geneva Campus, came to Webster in August 2005 after 25 years with the air transport industry. "One can't compare the aviation industry with a university, but some of the skills required are transferable, especially where human relations are concerned," Ross said. "I enjoy campus life and wouldn't go back."

Ross said she enjoys the two hats she wears with Webster. "My 'assistant registrar hat' allows me to get to know students when they first come to campus and to mother them when they need a shoulder," she said. "And with my 'alumni/development associate hat' I proudly watch them graduate, develop careers and entice them back to attend campus events."

Ross won the Employee Spotlight Award in February, due in large part to her efforts in coordinating the inauguration gala on Nov.10, 2005, for The Living and Learning Center, a new building on the Geneva Campus.

Ross (l) and Elisabeth Tayfun, HR Mgmt. Service, United Nations, Geneva at inauguration gala.

Geneva is proud of the new center, which provides educational, residential and recreational facilities to students. It contains state-of-the-art classrooms, a fitness center, a commons room for public gatherings, offices and a student lounge. The top two floors provide housing for 49 students.

"Organizing the inauguration event was an enjoyable, challenging task I couldn't have done without my volunteer team," Ross said. She and her volunteers solicited regional food contributions for the event from students, parents, faculty and staff from 50 countries.

"As we had organized an enormous tent, we were praying we would not have two feet of snow overnight," Ross said. "It was November, after all. The worry was futile because everything exceeded our expectations. There was so much food representing every corner of the world that we were unable to consume it."

With approximately 500 guests and President Richard S. Meyers on hand, the event was a great success. "Everyone was on a high for weeks afterward," Ross said.

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Conservatory Theatre Productions

"String of Pearls" cast members: l to r, back row, Becca Flinn, Alisha Soper, Jessica Palmer; front row, Kimberly Horner, Maggie Hart, Amanda Williford. Photo by Karen Burch.

“String of Pearls”
• All-female production directed by Kat Singleton, associate professor, Theatre and Dance, traces the 36-year journey of a family's pearl necklace.
• Talk-backs will follow productions on March 31, April 2 and April 7.
• March 29-April 2 and April 5-9, 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m
• Stage III, Webster Hall
• Admission $10; Webster faculty, staff and students free with I.D.

In conjunction with the production of "String of Pearls," the Theatre and Dance department and Women's Studies are co-sponsoring a series of talks to be presented before some performances:

"Reflections and Influences on Practices of Contemporary Mothers"
• Jenny Broeder, MSN coordinator and assistant professor, Nursing
• Wed., April 5, 6:15-7:15 p.m., Moore Auditorium

"String of Pearls and the Gems of Female Sexuality"
• Monica Moore, professor, Behavioral and Social Sciences
• Thurs., April 6, 6:15-7:15 p.m., Moore Auditorium

Webster Symphony Orchestra: "Carl Pandolfi: Journey by Train"
This year's winner of the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts competition for concertists and aria singers will appear in concert. The concert is the St. Louis premiere of a Carl Pandolfi symphonic work. Pandolfi is a graduate of Webster and Indiana University. Other works to be performed include Grieg's Symphonic Dances and Ivanov's Caucasian Sketches.

• Sunday, April 23, 7 pm.
• Community Music School, University City
• $10; Faculty, staff and students free with Webster I.D.

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Contributed by Shawn Arbogast, Student Editorial Assistant

MARCH 2006 SPOTLIGHT AWARD

Connie Mlynarczyk

Connie Mlynarczyk, department associate, Biological Sciences, and Shanetta Cross, department assistant, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas share the Employee Spotlight Award honors for March.

Mlynarczyk has been with the Biological Science department for four years, part-time for two years, and in her current full-time department associate position for two years. "Starting part-time helped me to get a feel for how things work at Webster and provided an exceptional training experience," Mlynarczyk said.

"Connie is an extremely important person in the department," Mlynarczyk's nominator said. "Even though her office space is small and she has constant interruptions, she is always courteous and able to do quality work at a fast pace. She maintains a positive, cheerful attitude during the most hectic times."

Mlynarczyk's responsibilities include negotiating reduced prices from vendors for biology laboratory supplies and dealing with service contractors who come in to service laboratory instruments. "Connie has changed some of the procedures for accomplishing department tasks," her nominator said. "Everything she suggests makes the department run smoother."

Mlynarczyk said the best part of her job is the unique challenges. She said the beginning of the semester can "get kind of involved" because many of the things she orders are live items that need to be refrigerated or kept frozen.

Even though she is the newest member in her department, Mlynarczyk said she has always felt welcome and part of the team. Her nominator agrees, "We are very fortunate to have her with us."

Mlynarczyk is still weighing her prize options, but said an additional day off might be helpful with her daughter getting married this year.

Shanetta Cross

Shanetta Cross said she will always remember when she was notified about winning the Employee Spotlight Award because she was able to share it with her family. "I received the call from my supervisor one Sunday afternoon and started screaming and jumping up-and-down," Cross said. "When my three little boys and husband ran in, they began jumping up-and-down and screaming with me. They were so proud of me and I will never forget that."

Her nominator said Cross, who has been with Webster for three years, is very deserving of the spotlight award, adding that Cross's efforts to help bring Lackland's public administration area of concentration into compliance with the School of Business and Technology's curriculum consistency requirements were exemplary.

Cross's nominator said she performed the tasks required for that effort in an exceptional manner, including coordinating data from other sites, setting up course syllabi and faculty course guides and developing assessment tools to support the program.

The nominator also praised Cross for the outstanding job of coordinating a gala event that raised $25,000 to establish a memorial scholarship program in memory of a Lackland graduate.

"Seeing the satisfaction on students' faces and knowing I was able to take away some of their stress is really the best part of my job," said Cross, who recently assisted a student deployed to Iraq through the new Deployment Online Rate program. "I was able to lessen his stress by crediting his student account so he could focus on more important things."

Cross chose the $100 savings bond as her prize.

Employees everywhere are eligible for the monthly Employee Spotlight Award.
Using the nomination form is easy!

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Effective April 1, 2006, Blue Choice members will no longer have to get network referrals or select a primary care physician. They will be able to visit the Blue Choice network health care provider of their choice without a referral.

Members can still select a primary care physician to help guide them through the health care system, but they are not required to do so. Benefits will be received when visiting any Blue Choice network provider.

However, if a network physician believes a member needs covered care that is not available from a network provider, Blue Choice will need to approve the request in order for the member to receive benefits.

Members can continue to use their current ID cards after this change takes effect. Blue Choice will contact members by mail with information about these changes.

For more information, go to www.bcbsmo.com or call 800-932-4480.

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Van McElwee, professor, Electronic and Photographic Media, recently had a show of his video work — from 1995 to the present — at the Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art and was interviewed for the museum's magazine, "Art World." McElwee's work also was included in a group show at the museum titled "New York, New York."

David Brennan, associate professor, School of Business and Technology, presented "The Cultural Side of International Business" to high school students in the BEST (Business Education Scholarship Training) program. Brennan's program included information on some of the humorous aspects of doing business abroad, including appropriate language and gestures, proper dining practices and behaviors that can be misconstrued by those of another culture. The BEST program provides a successful bridge for minority students from St. Louis high schools who have expressed an interest in pursing a business degree in college. Brennan, along with Donna Cartwright and Patrick Walsh, adjunct professors, School of Business and Technology, accompanied seven marketing majors to the 45th Annual Student Marketing Conference, sponsored by the St. Louis Chapter of the American Marketing Association. The conference featured presentations by marketing professionals emphasizing the knowledge and skills required to be successful in the field.

Keep us posted on your professional activities and send us your story ideas by completing the UFO form.

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The University extends its appreciation to the following individuals who have served the institution for many years:

MARCH 2006

Sheryl Rowden, financial aid counselor, Financial Aid, 10 years

Dean Leftridge, academic advisor, Old Post Office Campus, 5 years

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We extend warm welcome to the newest members of the Webster family:

Sanel Colic, lab assistant, Information Technology, (314) 961-2660, ext. 8623, replaces Amir Fuzlic's former position.

Cheryl Keeton, department assistant, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., (573) 329-6777 or speed dial #6 014, replaces Nicole Cheney's former position.

Michelle Loufek, coordinator, Space Coast Metropolitan Campus, Fla., (321) 449-4500 or speed dial #6 008, replaces Carl Marx.

Brian Mueller, networking coordinator, Information Technology, (314) 961-2660, ext. 8794, replaces Matthew Maddox's former position.

Susan Napoleon, administrative associate, School of Communications, (314) 968-7154, replaces Courtney Arne.

Sharon Offerdahl, department associate, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., (623) 536-6880 or speed dial #6 116, replaces Janet Shephard.

Lelani Rowland, lab assistant, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., (843) 760-1324 or speed dial #6 018, replaces Jeremy Richey.

Eric Schramm, development officer, government and foundation grants, Development, (314) 961-2660, ext. 5946.

Diana Simmons, department assistant, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, (210) 226-3373 or speed dial #6 027, replaces .

Kathy Taylor, representative, Little Rock Metropolitan Campus, Ark., (501) 375-1511 or speed dial #6 064, replaces Rachel Wilcoxson.

To learn more about job opportunities at Webster, go to the Human Resources Jobs site.

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The University extends its sympathy to Warren Rosenblum, History, Politics and International Relations, in the loss of his father.

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© 2006 Webster University