Month: May 2022

Business Education Reimagined

jlansber Notes from the Dean
Interim Dean Tom Donley | Photo by Kathy Hillegonds
Interim Dean Tom Donley | Photo by Kathy Hillegonds


This July the Driehaus College of Business will welcome Sulin Ba, the Treibick Family Endowed Chair in information technology at the University of Connecticut, as our new dean. Professor Ba and I are working closely on a leadership transition that supports the continuing success of our college, and she looks forward to joining DePaul, connecting with our alumni and getting to know the Chicago business community. I invite you to read more about our incoming dean.

Reflecting on my tenure as interim dean, I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to lead a college community that cares so deeply about our students and the DePaul mission. With support from our alumni and the business community, we have overcome many challenges caused by the pandemic and advanced student success in a number of ways:

Reimagining our curriculum. Our faculty will launch a revised bachelor’s in business program this fall with guidance from alumni and business leaders on the skills that make graduates successful. The updated program emphasizes analytical skills for data-based decision-making, entrepreneurial thinking that drives innovation, and socially responsible leadership. Experiential learning opportunities—such as the real-world student consulting projects highlighted in this issue’s feature story—continue to be an important part of all of our programs, giving students a chance to apply the skills they’ve learned. In the coming year we also plan to expand opportunities for alumni and others to refresh their professional skills through new certificate programs offered by our Hay Center for Leadership Development.

Leveraging technology to enhance learning. DePaul has invested significantly in new classroom technologies, and our faculty members have embraced training that empowers them to teach engagingly in person, online and in hybrid modes. We are offering courses in a wider range of modalities that provide students-especially graduate students-the flexibility they need to complete their business education while fulfilling work and family responsibilities. This spring our college launched a Business Education in Technology and Analytics (BETA) Lab to accelerate the infusion of technology into our courses, research and community collaborations.

Elevating student and faculty engagement. We are focusing more resources on delivering a personalized, engaging and compassionate educational experience to our students through a new role at our college, associate dean for student success; fresh collaborations with DePaul’s admission and student affairs offices; and faculty mentoring programs.

Strengthening business and alumni connections. This academic year I’ve worked with our Business Advisory Council to re-envision the role of this group of prominent alumni and business leaders in supporting our college and its students. Their recommendations provide new ideas for engaging council members in the life of our college and leveraging their insight and connections to benefit our students. We’re proud to profile alumnus Brian Ruben, one of the council members who helped lead this initiative, in this issue.

I leave the leadership of the Driehaus College of Business in good hands and with confidence about the future.

Tom Donley signature

Thomas Donley
Interim Dean
Driehaus College of Business

Scholarship Honors Legacy of Professor Sandra Shelton

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Sandra Shelton
Sandra Shelton | Photo by Kathy Hillegonds

Last fall the Driehaus College of Business lost one of its most influential faculty members. Sandra Shelton, an accountancy professor who mentored PhD candidates of color across the nation, died on Oct. 4. Shelton taught auditing and corporate governance at DePaul for 27 years, and as one of the founding members of the nonprofit PhD Project, she encouraged students of color to become business professors, including several who now teach at DePaul.

In 2016 she was named the KPMG/Neil F. Casson Endowed Professor of Accountancy in recognition of her contributions to business education and the accounting profession. DePaul has established the Sandra Shelton Memorial Scholarship to honor Shelton and carry on her legacy. Learn more about Shelton’s lasting impact and the scholarship at give.depaul.edu/SandraShelton.

Revised Bachelor’s in Business Degree Curriculum Debuts This Fall

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Student in a classroom at the Driehaus College of BusinessThe Driehaus College of Business has reimagined its Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB) core curriculum with input from employers about the knowledge and skills they seek when recruiting graduates. Debuting this fall, the revised program begins with three new courses—Business Fundamentals and the Entrepreneurial Mindset, Business Analytics, and Business for Social Good.

“By completing this series of courses early in the program, students gain an immediate understanding of how business organizations operate and the range of potential career fields they can pursue, while developing highly marketable analytical skills and a mindset for becoming innovative, socially responsible business professionals,” says Thomas Donley, interim dean of the business college. The revised program also provides more flexibility for students to take electives and add minors tailored to their individual career ambitions.

School of Accountancy & MIS Names New Director

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Associate Professor Hui Lin has been appointed as director of the School of Accountancy & MIS at the Driehaus College of Business.
Hui Lin | Photo by Kathy Hillegonds

Hui Lin, an associate professor and international program administrator, has been named the next director of the School of Accountancy & MIS. Lin will assume her new role July 1. A member of the school’s faculty since 2008, Lin led the college’s international degree and study abroad programs as director of the Driehaus Center for International Business this academic year. She also serves DePaul as an associate director of regional initiatives, focusing on student recruitment and alumni engagement in China. Lin’s teaching and research expertise is in knowledge management, accounting information systems and internal controls.

“My priorities as director will be to attract more students to accounting, ensure resources and support for our faculty and staff, and engage and collaborate with our alumni,” Lin says. She succeeds Ray Whittington, who will return to teaching full time after serving two tenures as director of the school, before and after his 10-year run as dean of the business college from 2006 to 2017.

Alumnus Brian Ruben: “Paying It Forward Is the DePaul Way”

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As an advisory council task force chair, Brian Ruben is helping the business college re-envision how it can engage the strengths, talents and industry connections of alumni and friends on the council. (Photo by Kathy Hillegonds)
As an advisory council task force chair, Brian Ruben is helping the business college re-envision how it can engage the strengths, talents and industry connections of alumni and friends on the council.


When Brian Ruben (MSA ’95) started his graduate program at the School of Accountancy & MIS nearly 30 years ago—right around the time he began working at Deloitte in Chicago—he wasn’t sure which direction he wanted to take in his professional career. He chose accounting because “it’s the language of business and every organization needs a good accounting function.” But something sparked for him in the DePaul classroom as he listened to guest lecturers talk about their careers.

“It was inspiring to hear directly from professionals in accounting and learn how they navigated their careers and built their networks, because I was at a stage where I needed to do that from scratch,” Ruben says. “It made an impression on me, seeing a successful professional share their knowledge and having access to that knowledge. That’s something DePaul does really well, leveraging business connections to bring real-world experiences into the classroom.”

Fast-forward years later and Ruben is the one speaking to DePaul students, sharing lessons from his own career journey. Whether he’s in the classroom as an adjunct instructor or guest lecturer, or at a student event as a panelist or recruiter for Deloitte, where he is currently an audit and assurance partner, Ruben is an active and influential business alumnus, following a mantra of “giving back” that he says is the DePaul way.

“I know so many alumni who continued to stay connected to DePaul after graduating, giving back through service or dollars, and over the course of my career, I’ve benefited from the time many of these people have taken out of their busy careers to mentor me,” he says. “Now that I’m in a stage in my career where I feel like I can make a difference, I feel a responsibility to do so.”

Ruben is a proud donor and champion of DePaul. He helps recruit DePaul students and even led a fundraising initiative as part of the university’s annual Blue Demon Challenge in 2021. His efforts helped raise more than $300,000 (and counting) from individuals and the Deloitte Foundation to fund student scholarships and faculty support.

“It was a great way to bring DePaul alumni together at Deloitte and very exciting to see hundreds of alumni in offices around the country rally around something we all have in common,” he says.

Most recently, Ruben supported DePaul’s participation in a Deloitte MADE (Making Accounting Diverse and Equitable) initiative, the Deloitte Foundation Accounting Scholars Program. This scholarship program, for students pursuing a fifth-year master’s in accounting, is part of an effort to increase representation of racially and ethnically diverse students in accounting.

My connections with DePaul have benefited my personal and professional success in many ways. If I can be helpful and promote DePaul and give back insights and opportunities to students who are sitting where I once sat, that’s really satisfying and rewarding for me. I hope I can inspire others to do the same.”
— Brian Ruben (MSA ’95)

Ruben also has helped faculty members incorporate the latest business innovations into the curriculum. When DePaul Finance Associate Professor Lamont Black approached Ruben to collaborate on designing a course on blockchain, Ruben obliged, bringing in his blockchain Deloitte colleagues to provide the knowledge and coaching needed to help develop the course, which is now in its third year.

“I love that DePaul faculty aren’t lecturing out of a book and are truly dedicated to being at the forefront of the most cutting-edge information to bring back to students,” he says. “I think it’s important to contribute to that, as a business professional, for the next generation.”

One of Ruben’s most long-standing contributions has been his service on the Driehaus College of Business Advisory Council, a 60-member group of business leaders who offer industry insight and resources to the college. Ruben has been involved in the council for 10 years, and in his role as a council task force chair this academic year, he has been instrumental in re-envisioning how the business college can engage the strengths, talents and industry connections of council members to support the college and its students.

Encouraged by a former mentor, who also happens to be a DePaul alumnus, Ruben has used his time on the council not only as another way to give back, but also as an opportunity to expand his own professional experiences.

“Through all these experiences, I’ve learned so much about myself, the challenges that academia and universities face, and how to help another organization grow. It’s not all just about giving, giving, giving. That’s certainly a priority, but you also have to get something in return,” Ruben says.

“My connections with DePaul have benefited my personal and professional success in many ways. If I can be helpful and promote DePaul and give back insights and opportunities to students who are sitting where I once sat, that’s really satisfying and rewarding for me. I hope I can inspire others to do the same.”

By Nadia Alfadel Coloma | Photo by Kathy Hillegonds

Sulin Ba Appointed Driehaus College of Business Dean

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Incoming Driehaus College of Business Dean Sulin Ba was introduced to the Chicago alumni community at a spring business alumni reception that attracted nearly 300 attendees. (Photo By Kathy Hillegonds)
Incoming Driehaus College of Business Dean Sulin Ba was introduced to the Chicago alumni community at a spring business alumni reception that attracted nearly 300 attendees. | Photo by Kathy Hillegonds

Sulin Ba, a higher education leader dedicated to fostering research, interdisciplinary collaboration and global learning, has been appointed dean of the Driehaus College of Business, effective July 1.

Sulin Ba joins the Driehaus College of Business as dean on July 1. (Photo by Jeff Carrion)
Sulin Ba joins the Driehaus College of Business as dean on July 1. | Photo by Jeff Carrion

Ba is currently a professor and the Treibick Family Endowed Chair in information technology at the University of Connecticut. In her nearly 20 years at UConn’s School of Business, she has held multiple leadership roles, most recently as the associate dean of academic and research support. She also served as the executive director of the Connecticut Information Technology Institute and faculty director of the Center for International Business Education and Research.

“Sulin immediately impressed me with her deep understanding of today’s higher education landscape,” Provost Salma Ghanem says. “She recognizes what a leading business school like Driehaus must do to develop our students into talented global citizens who can make positive changes in the world. Her collaborative leadership style, visionary ideas and dedication to inclusive learning will without a doubt benefit DePaul University.”

As associate dean, Ba championed faculty research. She successfully implemented new policies and procedures to increase productivity and incentivize high-quality research. In order to better support junior faculty, she initiated and implemented the business school’s first mentoring program. Ba also launched several initiatives to foster collaboration across campus. Recognizing the importance of preparing students for the global economy, she led the development of dual-degree programs in business, Spanish and German studies. Each program includes a semester abroad at a partner university, as well as an overseas internship component.

She recognizes what a leading business school like Driehaus must do to develop our students into talented global citizens who can make positive changes in the world. Her collaborative leadership style, visionary ideas and dedication to inclusive learning will without a doubt benefit DePaul University.”
– Provost Salma Ghanem

As innovation plays an increasingly important role in the U.S. economy, Ba made it a priority for students to have more opportunities to engage in entrepreneurship and experiential learning programs across UConn and outside the university. She is a founding member of the board of directors for Innovation Place Hartford, an initiative jointly funded by the State of Connecticut and other public and private sectors to catalyze technological innovation. As part of the board’s work, she brought together UConn’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the University of Hartford, Trinity College and other organizations to launch several entrepreneurship programs, such as the InsurTech Accelerator and Ignite Hartford. Both programs are embraced by students as well as major insurance companies in Hartford.

“Universities can and must be engines of innovation for society. Business education is at an inflection point,” Ba says. “With its strong connection to the vibrant Chicago business community, the Driehaus College of Business has an outstanding foundation to be on the forefront of the rapidly changing business education landscape, to be a driver of economic growth and social mobility. I am honored to be the next dean of the Driehaus College. I look forward to working with the talented faculty, staff and students to elevate the college to even further levels of success.”

Strengthening diversity and inclusion among faculty, staff and students is a high priority for Ba. Through fundraising at UConn, Ba created a mentorship program to help underserved high school students find a pathway to college.

Interim Business Dean Thomas Donley welcomed Sulin Ba to DePaul by presenting her with a Driehaus College of Business jacket. (Photo By Kathy Hillegonds)
Interim Business Dean Thomas Donley welcomed Sulin Ba to DePaul by presenting her with a Driehaus College of Business jacket. | Photo by Kathy Hillegonds

There is great alignment between my experience and DePaul’s dedication to making education accessible to all,” Ba says. “I am eager to continue working toward providing inclusive access to a world-class business education.”
– Sulin Ba, incoming DePaul business dean

An award-winning researcher who publishes regularly in leading academic journals, Ba is an honorary distinguished professor at the School of Management at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. She also has previously served as a distinguished visiting professor at University of Mannheim in Germany, as well as an assistant professor in the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. She has a PhD in management information systems and a master’s in library and information sciences from the University of Texas at Austin. Ba earned her bachelor’s degree in library and information sciences from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China.

Ghanem thanked Thomas Donley, who has served as interim dean since July 2020, for leading the college through one of the most challenging periods for DePaul and higher education due to the pandemic. “I am incredibly grateful for all he has done to support our faculty, staff and students during these challenging times. The Driehaus College of Business is poised for much future success, thanks to his leadership.”

By Elizabeth Clements 

‘Powerful Humility’ Drives Ukrainians to Selflessly Defend their Homeland, says DePaul Alumna Who Served as Ukraine Finance Minister

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Natalie Jaresko (BUS ’87), an American-Ukrainian investment banker who previously served as Minister of Finance of Ukraine, delivered a speech at the 15th Annual Consular Corps Luncheon, hosted by The Grace School of Applied Diplomacy at DePaul. | Photo by Jackson Junkin
Natalie Jaresko (BUS ’87), former Minister of Finance of Ukraine, delivered a speech at the 15th Annual Consular Corps Luncheon, hosted by The Grace School of Applied Diplomacy at DePaul. | Photo by Jackson Junkin

Driehaus College of Business alumna Natalie Jaresko (BUS ’87), an American-Ukrainian investment banker who served as Minister of Finance of Ukraine from 2014-2016, returned to DePaul this spring to deliver an impassioned address about the war-torn Eastern European nation.

Jaresko was the keynote speaker at the 15th Annual Consular Corps Luncheon, hosted by The Grace School of Applied Diplomacy at DePaul and its director, David Wellman. The event—attended by consuls general representing countries from around the world, faculty and staff—returned to the Lincoln Park Campus April 28 after a two-year hiatus.

Jaresko began her remarks by referencing the graphic news coverage of the war in Ukraine, which has raised worldwide awareness of both the brutality and heroism that are a daily part of Ukrainian life since Russia invaded the country Feb. 24.

“There is a common thread woven through each of these stories you hear, each of these photos that you’ve seen,” she said. “It is a powerful insistence on a right to self-determination. It is a powerful humility exhibited by each person and each act of kindness, selflessness, strength and unity.

“St. Vincent de Paul said ‘the most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility, for he does not know how to employ it and neither does he know how to defend himself from it’,” she continued. “And this is the reason Ukraine must win this war.”

Natalie Jaresko (BUS ’87) was the keynote speaker at the 15th Annual Consular Corps Luncheon, hosted by The Grace School of Applied Diplomacy at DePaul. The event—attended by consuls general representing countries from around the world, faculty and staff—returned to the Lincoln Park Campus April 28 after a two-year hiatus.
The event was attended by consuls general representing countries from around the world, faculty and staff. | Photo by Jackson Junkin

The Ukrainian people, Jaresko observed, “are serving as an example to all of us. They are speaking truth to power. They are putting others first. They are protecting one another and defending their right to self-determination. That right to enjoy their identity, their culture, their history, their language and their nation.”

The determining factor in the war, she said, “will be the will of the people of Ukraine” to defend their democracy.

“Their strength comes from humility…a deep love of their homeland, and from a humble desire to live freely in our own communities, speak whatever language you wish, practice whatever religion you wish, and demanding of ourselves as much as we demand of our leaders,” she said.

The opportunity to speak about Ukraine at DePaul was “a great honor,” Jaresko said, “because this is the school that inspired me to pursue a life of public service.”

Watch Jaresko’s full speech in the video below.

By Robin Florzak

Major Gift Creates Emerging Company Program at DePaul University

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Errol R. Halperin and his wife, Libby, support startups launched by students, alumni and others

Coleman Entrepreneurship Center sign

DePaul University alumnus Errol R. Halperin (BUS ’64, JD ’67), and his wife, Libby Halperin, made a major gift to the university at the end of last year to create a new business entrepreneurship program. Mr. Halperin is a retired partner and strategic advisor to the global business law firm DLA Piper. Mr. Halperin has also served as a board member of various public and private companies. He is currently on the board of Elkay Manufacturing Company, Pangea Properties and Elkay Interior Systems.

The Halperin Emerging Company Fund will give DePaul the capital to make equity investments in startups that show potential for growth and job creation. These investments will be available to DePaul students and alumni and, on occasion, other individuals to give them opportunity to form, structure, and grow newly envisioned businesses. Qualified investors may also be given the opportunity to co- invest in these newly formed companies.

“We’re proud to partner with Mr. Halperin to help launch this exciting program,” says Bruce Leech, director of the Driehaus College of Business’ Coleman Entrepreneurship Center (CEC), which oversees the program’s fund created by the gift. “This gift will not only allow for the growth of startup companies, but expands our ability as a university to serve those in our community with innovative and purposeful ideas.”

Although housed in the Driehaus College of Business, the program will serve all of DePaul’s colleges and schools, encouraging entrepreneurial innovation across academic disciplines through collaborative activities and discussion. Since receiving this gift, the CEC has been working to assemble an advisory committee composed of DePaul faculty, graduate students and alumni as well as distinguished advisors from the business community. The committee will be tasked with offering recommendations on equity investments in new businesses and is currently in the process of establishing standards for the application process and review of eligible startups.

The program’s emphasis on linking academia and industry reflects the nationally esteemed Coleman Entrepreneurship Center’s experiential-learning initiatives, such as its industry-expert mentorship program and a recently launched incubator program for social-impact startups. The latter may provide a beneficial pipeline of business candidates for program-funding consideration. With this recent gift, Halperin helps bolster DePaul’s commitment to growing an entrepreneurial ecosystem strengthened by academic innovation and community investment.

“My own DePaul education provided the ideal foundation for a career in which I’ve counseled countless clients in general business, manufacturing and the real estate industry,” says Mr. Halperin. “I’m honored to be able to help students, fellow alumni and other DePaul partners to learn those same, invaluable skills while developing businesses that create employment and build community.”