FROM THE DEAN

I am pleased to report significant strides over the last year on initiatives focused on strategic priorities at the Bloch School; initiatives designed to help us better serve our students and stakeholders. Allow me to offer a few highlights, some of which are discussed in this edition of the Bloch Magazine.

The Bloch School continues to expand experiential learning opportunities, enhancing both professional development for our students and community engagement. From the Bloch Consulting Lab to the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program and direct interaction with members of the Kansas City entrepreneurial and real estate communities, our students gained valuable knowledge while providing helpful services to individuals, businesses and nonprofits throughout the region.

With advances in artificial intelligence, we are working to rethink our curriculum and teaching. We are making progress on initiatives focused on these emerging technologies. This year, the Bloch School launched new courses in AI and analytics, redesigned existing courses to integrate AI and automation and launched a new MBA program focused on business analytics and emerging technology. To support these efforts, we have established a new cohort of faculty AI Fellows who are leading the way to develop innovative approaches for students to build skills that will be needed for the workforce of the future.

Another key strategic priority revolves around efforts to help ensure that students from all parts of our community have access to outstanding programs and achieve positive career outcomes. To serve all students, including first-generation students and those with financial need, we are strengthening partnerships with community organizations and secondary schools. We also continue to build employer connections and enhance resources, guidance and support for launching successful careers.

We are also doing more in our efforts to serve the region’s working professionals and executives. Led by distinguished executives-in-residence, this year, we engaged over 30 senior executives in our newly launched CEO Academy. In addition, we partnered with organizations like Commerce Bancshares and QuikTrip to offer customized programming for their executive teams. Symposiums and workshops done via the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, Central Exchange and the Lewis White Real Estate Center touched well over 1,000 participants. Also, the LEAD Scholars program provided more than 160 Professional MBA students with executive coaching from an industry leader as well as high-impact residencies.

As we look to the future, we embrace the need for innovation in response to a rapidly changing environment. We extend our sincere gratitude to our many dedicated partners whose support is instrumental in helping prepare students and stakeholders for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Brian Klaas, Ph.D.

Dean, Henry W. Bloch School of Management