From the Dean

This issue of The Journey focuses on the things that we most value because of their direct relationship to our mission of graduating students who are beyond ready for personal and professional success

The process starts with exceptional students who select the Farmer School for this phase of their journey While these students come from across the country and around the world, they are alike in many ways; they are motivated, keen learners seeking a unique experience that will prepare them well for life after college . While Valerie Do’s story seems humorous—as a Vietnamese high schooler thinking that Miami University was in Florida, she discovered that this school, in the middle of Ohio, was the perfect place for her

Why? Because our faculty and staff are focused on our students’ success They are innovators who push the boundaries to ensure that our students are ready for careers in areas that don’t yet exist Instead of shying away from new technologies, like AI, our faculty immediately found ways to integrate and leverage it to expand the possibilities for their students

But learning isn’t limited to the classroom or to lecture format Outside the classroom, the majority of our students are members of at least one business organization (we have 40 of them!), participate in intra- and inter-collegiate competitions—all opportunities to practice what we teach, making the transition from college to “real life” seamless . Every Farmer School student works on real projects with real clients, as our first-year students quickly learn in our First Year Integrated Core As one remarked about their project with Next Generation Fuel, LLC, (NextGen), “Right off the jump we’re working with companies and communicating with their CEO ” Another added, “This has definitely been the most formative experience for me as a freshman in the business school It’s been a challenge, and it’s highlighted all the strengths that could not be highlighted in other programs It’s something that’s really unique to Miami and it’s really made my freshman year experience and made me love the Farmer School even more ”

Those interactions with businesspeople are a hallmark of the school . In 2023, more than 2,000 worked with our students —as mentors, speakers in classes, competition judges, and as clients for class projects The connection benefits both students and professionals, as Bernita McCann Hightower, founder and president at NextGen, a recent FYIC client, commented, “I really did not know what to expect This whole journey has been so rewarding for me You guys have just opened up so many possibilities . And I have chills right now because you knocked it right out of the park I mean, you were better than professionals . You guys are rock stars!”

Many of our visiting professionals are alumni They are eager to give of their time and talent to the school who gave so much to them They also generously support the continuous enhancement of their alma mater . In 2023, more than 14% of the more than 45,000 Farmer School alumni were also donors to our current capital campaign

It is truly an honor to serve as the dean of an institution that has the students, faculty, staff, and alumni united behind a single goal .

JENNY DARROCH Dean and Mitchell P. Rales Chair in Business Leadership

2/3 OF STUDENTS ARE MEMBERS OF AN FSB STUDENT ORGANIZATION

65%+ OF FARMER SCHOOL STUDENTS

STUDIED ABROAD (THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 16%)

TOP10

Public University for Student Outcomes

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TOP 5

PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES FOR CAREER OUTCOMES

No.1 IN RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY IN EMPIRICAL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT OUTPUT AMONG NON-DOCTORAL PROGRAMS IN AMERICA

TOP20

Public Undergraduate Business School

Poets & Quants 2024