In 2010, the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston chapters participated in the Lone Star Challenge, a challenge to increase awareness of Campaign Emory and overall campaign participation within these two cities. By a very small margin, the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter won the challenge, and as a result, was awarded a visit by one of Emory’s most distinguished professors in the Goizueta Business School.

On Tuesday, April 26th, fifty local alumni and friends of Emory gathered at one of the newest hotspots in Dallas – The Ritz Carlton. The evening included an opportunity to network with fellow guests, learn more about upcoming chapter events, and hear Benn Konsynski’s, the George S. Craft Distinguished University Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management, lecture “Toys Becoming Tools: Emerging Technologies and Future Possibilities.”

Dr. Konsynski captivated the audience with stories from helping the founders of Yahoo with their start up business model to assisting other large players leverage the first generation Web. He invited all members of the audience to join the “Student of Benn or S.O.B” Club, and challenged us to think outside the norm with regard to how technology will drive the future world order. (Click here to view photos from the event.) Here are some highlights:

“Traditional thought says strategy drives technology. I wholeheartedly disagree. Technology changes strategic possibilities”

“The customer has left the building. You are no longer able to affect the customer directly.”

“Predict often. Future is best seen with a running start. You always need to see where the past saw the future.”

“Challenge all assumptions.”

“Be relentless in the pursuit of interesting.”

“What is worth retaining and what is going to change? We can't hold back the tide but how do we embrace it?”

When asked “Who will run large business in the future?”, Benn responded, “who says there will be big companies?”

These thought-provoking remarks were the highlight of one of the best attended chapter events since President Wagner visited a few years ago. And it surely created a buzz of conversation following the session. As a long-time member of the S.O.B. Club, I encourage alumni and friends of Emory from other regions to take time to get to know Benn and leverage his insights.

Listen to Benn Konsynski’s lecture here.

--Tara Whitehead-Stotland 93B, alumni volunteer

You'd think that listening to a podcast about the royal weddings of British monarchs would be...well...boring. But it was far from that and overflowing with gossip, scandal, and promiscuity.


Allitt highlighted some of the most important weddings throughout British history and what made them so memorable. Here's a bit about a few of them...

He started with the matrimony of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, who was incidentally beautiful--uncommon for an arranged marriage. And she had three sons, which is like hitting the jackpot for a British king.


He continued with King Henry VIII, whom Allitt described as the most famous fat man in English history. To ensure he had a male heir, he was married six times to a variety of royal women, including Anne Boleyn who was later executed by King Henry's order.

Queen Elizabeth I, the daughter of Anne Boleyn, refrained from the institution altogether, focusing more on her duties to her country.

I'll skip to the more scandalous kings, like Charles II who was notoriously promiscuous and had 14 illegitimate children, or like George IV who illegally married a Catholic common woman before marrying his royal Protestant wife.


The English monarchs also instated a few marital traditions that we still practice today, like wearing a white wedding dress and serving a wedding cake.

Allitt of course spoke about Prince Charles and Princess Diana marriage and how they were married at a time when the media began turning royalty into celebrities.

Now, Allitt couldn't predict anything for the future of the soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. Prince William, but he did wish them the best.

They're wedding is definitely not as shrouded in controversy as their royal predecessors, but it will certainly be the one with the most media attention.

If you missed Allitt's webinar, you can watch it online here.

--Lindsey Bomnin 12C, EAA communications intern

Sixty Nashville area alumni and friends came out on a beautiful, warm Southern evening for the Emory "Faculty Within Your Reach" event held at the University Club last Thursday.

Guests were treated to a wonderful program on "Southern History, Literature, and Friendship: An Evening of Discussion and Discovery" by Emory English professor Dr. Sally Wolff-King, Dr. Edgar Francisco, III 56G, and Vanderbilt University English professor Dr. Michael Kreyling.

Along with hearing about fascinating research by Dr. Wolff-King and Dr. Kreyling, the audience was regaled with stories by Dr. Francisco, about his father's boyhood and lifelong friendship with noted Pulitzer Prize-winning author, William Faulkner in Oxford, Miss.

Dr. Francisco's personal tales gave an amazing glimpse into William Faulkner's genius and personality and the little-known history behind many of Faulkner's celebrated writings.

You can read up on Dr. Wolff-King's research in an article written for Emory Magazine.

And for more photos of the event, view the Emory Alumni Association's photo gallery.

--Susan Gregory 77Ox 79C, alumni volunteer

April 14, 1912 is the day the titanic struck the iceberg. No, I don't know this because I've seen the movie Titanic dozens of times, but I know this because it's the day after Judson C. Ward 33C 36G was born.

Dr. Ward, Jake, Dean of Alumni, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, teacher, mentor, and friend. These names barely begin to scratch the surface of the long and purposeful life that Dr. Ward lived.

I knew Dr. Ward as the Dean of Alumni and one of the namesakes of the Miller-Ward Alumni House. It was a treat to spend time with him, whether it was a passing hello in the hall or when he stopped by my office for a visit. He would sometimes give me a kiss on the cheek or squeeze my hand. He knew how to make you feel appreciated. The handwritten notes, the correspondence he fired off on his typewriter, the favors he did without hesitation--these are treasured memories by all who received them.

I will always remember April 13, the birthday of a wonderful, giving man and the weekend the Titanic sank. I only know this because Dr. Ward told me so. He thought that it was the biggest event that took place the weekend of his birth--not in my eyes. Happy Birthday Jake!

Everyone has their favorite Dr. Ward story. Please share your story with us.

For more information on Dr. Ward, read a commemorative blog post from our archives or view his 96th birthday in photos.

--Missy Rodil, EAA Miller-Ward Alumni House director