Michigan Ross: New Faculty and Electives Introduced for the 2019–2020 Academic Year

The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business “believes in the power of business to build a better world.” Let’s take a closer look at the new courses, initiatives, and faculty for 2019-2020.

In line with the mission of the school, the +Impact Studio was launched in 2019 as part of the Business+Impact Initiative, which itself was just launched in 2018. There are three components to the +Impact Studio: the course; the space itself; and events and speakers. The course creates interdisciplinary student teams who are in the MBA, MSW, MPH, and MEng programs, and teaches them to use faculty research insights in combination with design methodologies and business acumen to find innovative solutions to real-world problems. One team is using technology that a Ross marketing professor developed (to identify lead in Flint, MI water pipes) and scaling it so that it can be used not only in Flint but in other areas as well.

Also new for 2019 is Ross’ FinTech Initiative in partnership with the Chicago-based investment firm PEAK6. Committed to “…developing a robust pipeline of Ross talent…”, the initiative aims to give students not only the high level quant skills that employers increasingly need, but also knowledge of how to handle rapid change and disruption in the financial sector.

Another new initiative for 2019 is the International Investment Fund. Launched by a group of MBA students and with the guidance of faculty advisor Gautam Kaul, the curriculum-based, student-run international investment fund targets small and medium enterprises in India, with students entirely responsible for the investment portfolio.

Andy Hoffman’s new course “Business in Democracy: Advocacy, Lobbying, and the Public Interest” looks at how American society’s respect for market forces has begun to undermine its foundation of representative democracy.

Paula Caproni’s “The Science of Success: Who Succeeds, Who Doesn’t, and Why” aims to provide students with conceptual frameworks and skills to help them succeed personally and professionally.

“The Psychology of Startup Teams” (Lindy Greer — a new faculty member this year from Stanford GSB) focuses on the “people challenges” in a startup, providing students with tools, skills, and experiences to navigate the human dynamics of startup teams.

There are also two new courses focusing on the healthcare industry: “Building Healthy Business” (Stewart Thornhill), and “Healthcare Startups: Understanding Needs and Creating Ventures in Healthcare” (Mike Johnson). In the latter course, students examine the trends and challenges in the healthcare industry and learn to identify and understand needs, ultimately developing a proposal for an innovative healthcare venture.

There’s a lot going on at Michigan Ross for 2019-2020!

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