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Campus Review
May 14, 2012
Page 2
Clayton State Adds a Relationship Builder
Kate Troelstra Named V.P. for External Relations
by John Shiffert, University Relations
College of Business Featured
In May 2012 Issue of Georgia Trend
Clayton State University President Dr.
Thomas J. Hynes has announced the
appointment of Kate Troelstra, currently
senior director of Development at
Clemson University, as the next Vice
President for External Relations at
Clayton State.
Troelstra will start her new position on
June 11, 2012, replacing Brigadier
General (Ret.) Robert L. “Steve”
Stephens, who will be retiring on June 30,
2012, after 10 years at Clayton State.
“Ms. Troelstra brings to us a wealth of
experience in external affairs activities,”
says Hynes. “Her visits to campus drew
enthusiastic and positive responses from a
large number of colleagues. We are excit-
ed to watch her build on the efforts in
communication and development already
begun here at Clayton State University.”
As senior director of Development at
Clemson she oversees prospect research,
manages hiring, orientation, and profes-
sional development; prepares most reports
and analysis for the campaign and rein-
vestment fee, and carries a portfolio of
major gift prospects focused mainly in
Atlanta.
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University,
she began her development career there as
a phonathon caller and later phonathon
supervisor. Since graduation, she has been
in development for more than 20 years,
spending seven years in annual giving
before moving into major gifts. She has
experience in a wide range of fundraising
settings including
liberal arts col-
leges,
public
research universi-
ties, professional
schools, and inde-
pendent schools.
Throughout her
career in the field,
Troelstra notes
that she has con-
centrated
her
efforts, not so much on fund raising, but
on building relationships. At Clayton
State, she will be responsible for a wide
range of relationship-building functions,
including the University’s Development,
Kate Troelstra
Dr. Alphonso Ogbuehi, dean of the
College of Business at Clayton State
University, is featured in the May 2012
issue of Georgia Trend magazine. Also
included
in
Patty
Rasmussen’s
“Reinventing Business Education” article
are interviews with Clayton State –
Fayette MBA student Jade Tate, Assistant
Dean Dr. Judith Ogden, and Assistant
Professor of Supply Chain John
Mascaritolo.
Rasmussen’s article, which explores how
MBA programs throughout the state are
changing with the times, notes that one
size doesn’t fit all in MBA programs, and
consequently leads with a quote from
Ogbuehi on the changes in business edu-
cation; a not surprising approach, since
Clayton State’s MBA program is designed
to be flexible for the students’ conven-
ience, and indeed prides itself on chang-
ing with the times.
“The Great Recession taught those
involved in business education a lot,”
reads Ogbuehi’s quote. “For a long time
we were focused on very linear, compe-
tency-based education. The focus was on
accounting, finance, how to read balance
sheets, how to raise a stock price the next
day. But we’ve seen a side to business
education that needed to be re-empha-
sized, like communication skills. How do
you communicate that things are tough
without killing morale? That’s important.”
The concept of MBA programs being con-
stantly re-invented is another theme of the
article. Dr. Judith Ogden, director of the
Clayton State MBA program, notes that,
“We certainly try to incorporate such
things as ethical decision-making and
leadership into our curriculum. One of the
first
courses
taken
is
called
‘Communication and Leadership.’ The
first management course you take in the sup-
ply chain concentration is called
‘Innovation.’ I’m not sure you would have
had that in a business course 10 years ago.”
Rasmussen also reports that some of the
state’s 16 MBA programs offer concentra-
tions within their programs. That’s where
Mascaritolo, the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s
2011 Supply Chain Professional of the
Year, and MBA student Tate come in; as
Rasmussen notes, although Clayton
State’s MBA also has concentrations in
accounting and international business, the
University’s MBA niche is in the booming
supply chain field.
“The Supply Chain MBA at (Clayton
State) was the first of its kind when the
program began five years ago; the unique
focus was one reason the university sys-
Read the article online at http://www.georgia-
trend.com/May-2012/Reinventing-Business-
Education/
Georgia Trend, cont’d., p. 10
Troelstra, cont’d., p. 6