UMSL business students (from left) Nour Salmeen, Kevyn Gandaho and Alex Loehr and Joe Rottman, chair of the Department of Global Leadership and Management at UMSL, are excited about the newly created College of Business Administration department. (Photo by August Jennewein)

As the world of business shrinks, today’s graduate needs a global mindset. To better prepare business graduates to compete in the global arena, two units in the College of Business Administration at the University of Missouri–St. Louis have been reorganized to improve upon the already excellent course offerings and faculty expertise. On Aug. 1, the Department of Management became the Department of Global Leadership and Management.

“All students, especially business students need to understand and compete in the global economy. After consulting with the faculty, our advisory boards, the central administration and our students, this reorganization of the college will enable our students to think globally while they prepare for their careers,” said Charlie Hoffman, dean of the college. “This renewed global focus in the classroom and in the community will emphasize the skills and capabilities our students need to manage and lead global organizations.”

For world-traveling students like Kevyn Gandaho, who has called West Africa, Paris and New York home, choosing a university with a strong global program was important.

“I’m really excited about the new department and the opportunities it will give me,” said Gandaho, a sophomore majoring in international business. “Management is in every aspect of business, whether global or regional. Having strong skills in management on all levels will only help me understand business better.”

The realignment of the college will bring together well-established and highly productive management faculty with those involved in the nationally-ranked international business program.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked UMSL’s International Business program in the top 20 for 12 consecutive years. 

“Our students will be able to better understand global markets, the importance of a global work force, the financial connectivity of global institutions and the varying cultural strengths and differences,” said Joe Rottman, chair of the new department.

Nour Salmeen is a native of Kuwait. She chose UMSL for her undergraduate degree because of the outstanding IB program and is now working toward a masters degree in business administration.

“I’m excited to be a part of this new department and to learn from amazing faculty,” Salmeen said. “The IB program is outstanding, and to better connect with the management faculty will only give students a stronger advantage in the business world.”

Under the new department structure, the curriculum will be modified to integrate an international perspective into the existing management courses. Also, the focus of the current International Advisory Board will be broadened to encompass more traditional aspects of management and to increase the board’s impact on curriculum, classroom activities and scholarship funding.

“All majors will benefit from an increased emphasis on the international aspects of business. They will be more globally aware, more competitive, more engaged and better equipped to compete internationally,” said Rottman.