Inspire, Fall 2005

Inspire Business Students Immersed in China A group of Cedarville University students with an interest in international business spent three weeks in China this summer getting a firsthand look at business principles in action. During their tour they had the unique opportunity to hear from many high-profile speakers, including Reginald Chua, editor of The Asian Wall Street Journal ; Randy Wilcox ’81, president of Otis Elevator Company (South Asia Pacific Area); and Jaime FlorCruz, the Beijing bureau chief for Cable News Network (CNN). They also met with Dr. Zhenya Liu, a professor and international consultant. As editor of The Asian Wall Street Journal , Reginald Chua shared about the newspaper’s coverage of the influence of technology upon business and society. Randy Wilcox discussed what it is like leading a major company in the Far East (he is responsible for Otis’ operations in 11 south Asian countries). Jaime FlorCruz described the processes of intercultural business exchange from an insider’s perspective, while Dr. Zhenya Liu elaborated on China’s transition from a planned economy to an open market economy, as well as China’s current economic reform strategy. Dr. Franco Gandolfi, Cedarville University Associate Professor of International Business, and Myron Youngman ’76 coordinated the trip, which was the first of its kind at CU. Dr. Gandolfi said the goal was to provide a unique opportunity for Cedarville students to witness the economic unfolding of China. “The current development in China is unprecedented and defies theory — a communist country is opening its doors for economic development and modernization!” he explained. He added, “We were totally immersed in the culture, having been exposed to corporate, political, and social leaders in one of China’s most crucial moments in history — now.” Brian Sallee ’07 said the tour was very enlightening. “The people that we met and the intellectual level of the trip were amazing,” he shared. “I think this experience will help me in the future, because it has broadened my horizons and given me a better understanding of another culture.” Dr. Gandolfi said another international business trip is possible in the near future, adding, “This millennium is seen by many as the millennium of Asia, and I believe Asia merits our attention and close study, particularly greater Asia as a whole.” For more information about Cedarville University’s business programs, visit www.cedarville.edu/business. Three Named to New Roles Dr. Thomas Cragoe, associate professor of Bible, has been appointed interim chair of the department of biblical education. Cragoe earned his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College and holds both master of theology and doctor of theology degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary. Cragoe joined the Cedarville University faculty in 2001. Dr. Mark McClain ’89, associate professor of chemistry, has been appointed director of summer school and continuing education. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Sandia National Laboratories (1994-1996) and a Summer Faculty Research Fellow at the Air Force Research Laboratory (five years). He joined the Cedarville University faculty in 1996 and was selected as the Faculty Scholar Award recipient for the 2003-2004 academic year. Dr. Andrew Wiseman has been named director of travel studies and will continue serving as assistant professor of Spanish. One of Wiseman’s priorities will be brokering academic exchange programs between Cedarville University and foreign institutions. He had previously negotiated an agreement between Cedarville and the Universidad de Sevilla in Spain. The most recent project he coordinated was an exchange program with Handong Global University in Pohang, South Korea. Wiseman received his B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and also studied at the Universidad de Sevilla in Spain and the Universidad Internacional SEK in Santiago, Chile. He holds an M.A. from Florida State University and a Ph.D. from the Universidad de San Jose, in San Jose, Costa Rica. A Fulbright Scholar, Wiseman came to Cedarville in 2000.