On Saturday, January 23, a small, but dedicated group of 11 Emory alumni in Atlanta gathered at the Goizueta Business School in hopes of bringing change to the world. Granted, it may have been only a tiny change. But it was change nonetheless.

Community service has long been a part of Emory's, and the Emory Alumni Association's, legacy. And it is this legacy and the joy of helping others that brought this group together to support the newly developed Emory Alumni Community Service Group (EACS) for the organization's debut project: EATlanta, which stands for Emory Alumni Together Lending Atlanta Nutrition Through Assistance.

The mission of the EACS is to engage Emory alumni in serving their community through group events. EATlanta, EACS's first project, has one simple goal: provide personalized meals to those in need while simultaneously creating a stronger sense of community among local Emory alumni.

With more than 320,000 households in Georgia currently receiving food stamps, according to a U.S. Census Bureau study, there is a palpable need to feed and support the less fortunate in our state. EACS recognizes that even the smallest contributions can have a lasting impact on a community. This is why we developed EATlanta.

Through partnerships with Kroger and Whole Foods, EATlanta’s first project provided 250 needy people with meals made by Emory alumni. Each lunch was packed with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, along with a cookie, drink, napkin... and a whole lot of love. Volunteers gathered in the commons area on the first floor of Goizueta at 10:00 a.m., and worked hard preparing the lunches until about 1:00 p.m.

The alumni volunteers then transported the bagged lunches over to My Sister’s House, a nonprofit organization that provides resources to victims of domestic violence and their children. My Sister's House is long-term residential program associated with the Atlanta Union Mission, a Christian Ministry that seeks to aid any person in crisis through programs of rescue and recovery. My Sister’s House can accommodate between 200-300 residents at a time, a perfect number for EATlanta’s first contribution project.

After this successful event, EACS plans to make EATlanta a recurring project. We would like to encourage all alumni interested in volunteering for the next EATlanta program to join. Next time, we hope to prepare far more meals for the Atlanta Union Mission.

For information or updates, please email eacsvolunteers@gmail.com and we will provide you with details for our upcoming projects.

You can also join our Facebook group, "Emory Alumni Community Service (EACS),” to stay current on all the organization's latest efforts.

-- Blake Covington 07B, Emory Alumni Community Service Group

From its inception 90 years ago as a regional school of business, to its role as an internationally recognized institution preparing principled leaders for global enterprise, Goizueta Business School has a long tradition of breaking new ground.

Goizueta celebrated its 90th anniversary with a gala on Wednesday, December 2 at the High Museum of Art. The event honored distinguished alumni, faculty, staff and friends of Goizueta, toasting the last 90 years through awards and a video program on how the school has helped shape the lives of many.

The following individuals were honored for their time, talent and contributions:

Outstanding Staff Impact Award:
• Julie Barefoot, associate dean and director of MBA admissions
• Andrea Hershatter, associate dean and director of BBA program

Outstanding Faculty Impact Award:
• Art Dietz, Mills B. Lane Professor of Finance and Banking (posthumous)

Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award:
• John Spiegel 65MBA, vice chairman and CFO of SunTrust Banks Inc. (retired)

Outstanding Corporate Partner:
• The Coca-Cola Company

During Goizueta’s first 90 years, the U.S. survived both the Great Depression and World War II, proving that crisis-driven change is not new. In the challenges of today’s economy, the future of business education remains strong.

Dean Larry Benveniste said there has been no drop-off in applications to Goizueta, underscoring the significance of business education and the Emory degree. “I believe Emory has always been a place with strong values and commitment to leadership. The education remains very valuable. As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, we look forward to another 90 years of excellence.”

Goizueta through the decades

1919-1929
On Feb. 18, 1919, the dean of Emory College, Howard Odum 1904C, recommended the creation of a “school of economics and business administration” to the Board of Trustees. The new school, in conjunction with the college, offered courses in economics, accounting, and business law. By 1925, there were 145 students.

1930-1939
In 1938, the business school moved to its home in the C.L Fishburne building. Three women earned degrees from the BBA program.

1940-1949
The school, reduced to one faculty member during WWII, merged with the college. Walter H. Rich, president of the Rich Foundation, donated $250,000 for the construction of a building. In 1949, the school was admitted to the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business.

1950-1959
After a lapse of two decades, the school began accepting female students again in 1954. In the same year, the MBA program commenced with 19 registered students.

1960-1969
In 1961, the Evening MBA program was introduced. When the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business began accrediting master’s programs, Emory’s program was one of the first to be approved. Four years later, Emory appeared on the list of the top American colleges and universities producing U.S. executives. The school also hosted the Intercollegiate Business Games—computer games whose format mimicked war games developed by the Rand Corporation.

1970-1979
In 1977, the school dedicated a $2 million addition and renovation of the Rich Memorial Building, incorporating two important features: the Management Center and the Computer Center. The Executive MBA program was created in 1979, and the school introduced the joint JD/MBA degree.

1980-1989
The school developed the first MDiv/MBA degree in the country. Years of thoughtful and steady expansion improved rankings: In 1986, the Gourman Report ranked the Emory graduate business program 26th in the country, and the Executive MBA program was ranked in the top 15 in a BusinessWeek survey.

1990-1999
In 1994, the school was renamed for Roberto C. Goizueta. A $20 million gift from the Goizueta Family Foundation and another $20 million from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation in honor of Goizueta ensured years of financial security for the school.

2000-2009
The millennium brought about a new PhD program in business administration and a new program in real estate. Goizueta installed its current dean, Larry Benveniste, in 2005.

Source: Goizueta Magazine Fall 2009

To read more about the school’s past, present and future, see the latest issue of Goizueta Magazine.

The Goizueta Business School courtyard is usually this empty on a day like today. Many a student apply to the b-school in hopes of graduating from this prestigious institution. And, as a perk that all other majors envy, they get Fridays off.

What could be better than doing a little shopping at Bloomingdale’s on a Wednesday night? What about shopping and champagne with 75 incredible women and a two or three pretty great men?

The Executive Women of Goizueta and Goizueta Business School hosted their 3rd annual women’s donors event, Wednesday, August 26, at Bloomingdale’s where the women were thanked for their support of the business school and treated to an intimate conversation with Stephanie Blank (left, photo by Allison Shirreffs), the chair of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation Board of Trustees and a trustee of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.

The evening began with hors d'oeuvres, champagne, and networking in a private space in the women’s department at Bloomingdale’s and continued with presentations from the Laura Balser 94B 01MBA, president of the Executive Women of Goizueta; the general manager of Bloomingdale’s; and Goizueta Dean Larry Benveniste, who introduced Blank as the keynote speaker for the evening.

After spending time talking about the importance of giving time and money to causes that women are passionate about, Blank took questions from the group. In response to a question about how she stays so down to earth, Blank said, "I never want to embarrass my mother and I want to make sure I don’t raise bratty kids. If you keep those two things in the back of your mind, you’ll be okay."

As if we needed any additional encouragement to shop, Bloomingdale’s donated 10% of the evening’s purchases back to the business school, this is exactly what I told my husband when I returned home with multiple “big brown bags.”

--Emily Takieddine 02C, senior associate director of development, Goizueta Business School