2015 MBA in Sustainability Practicum Presentations and Alumni Networking Event
Keene, NH—On Saturday, April 25, Antioch University New England (AUNE) graduating students in the MBA in Sustainability program presented their Practicum projects to the Antioch community. Practica are year-long, self-designed, capstone projects encompassing research and application of theory to practice. Students, faculty, returning alumni, family and friends gathered for an afternoon of celebration and discussion.
The topics of this year’s projects included an examination of the financial sustainability of nonprofit organizations, understanding what is behind corporate social responsibility reporting, the role of coaching to support organizational change readiness, working with stakeholder groups for a successful campus sustainability initiative, bringing organic chicken to market in the local food movement, a personal strategic plan for starting a business, and researching eco-innovation marketing. This list exemplifies the breadth of influence and contribution that graduates of the MBA program have on building and promoting robust and sustainable organizational change efforts.
Michael W. Bussiere II – “Corporate Social Responsibility – It’s for Everyone”
Sarah DiMarino – “Building a Successful Future: The Financial Sustainability of Nonprofit Organizations”
Jake Elliott – “Build a Coaching Culture: The Next Step in Organizational Change Readiness”
Rebecca Leslie – “Motivating Stakeholders to Build a Campus Sustainability Movement”
Sylvie Levy – “My MBA Journey: An Entrepreneur’s Conception to Realization”
Tori Managan – “This Little Chicken Went to Market: Selling Poultry within the Vermont Local Food Movement”
Kristi Tisdale – “My Full Circle Loop: Eco-Innovation & Practicum”
For the first time this year, all the families and friends joined the annual gathering of students and alumni for the ceremonial ringing of the bells called, Gaia: Dance of the Cosmos, and participated in the networking event at the end where participants moved around the room to talk about sustainability topics with someone they had not yet met. Seeing the connections happening among student cohorts, alumni, faculty and families was inspiring.
Meet and greet to start the day.
Management Department Chair, Robbie Hertneky, welcomed everyone to the event.
Tori Managan presented “This Little Chicken Went to Market: Selling Poultry within the Vermont Local Food Movement”
Michael Bussiere presented “Corporate Social Responsibility – It’s for Everyone”
Sarah DiMarino’s project was “Building a Successful Future: The Financial Sustainability of Nonprofit Organizations”
Jake Elliott presented “Build a Coaching Culture: The Next Step in Organizational Change Readiness”
Rebecca Leslie talked about “Motivating Stakeholders to Build a Campus Sustainability Movement”
Ceremonial ringing of Environmental Studies faculty emeritus, Ty Minton’s bells, called “Gaia: Dance of the Cosmos, an environmental essay in clay”. They represent the birth of the universe, earth, life, and more.
MBA Program Director, Taryn Fisher, introducing the networking activity with students, alumni and families.
The netwoking was a speed dating activity where participants moved around the circle to talk about sustainability topics with someone they hadn’t met.