Elspeth Murray, Associate Professor of Strategy and New Ventures and CIBC Fellow in Entrepreneurship, has been named QSB’s new Associate Dean, MBA Programs.

“Professor Murray brings strong management skills and deep experience in Queen’s MBA programs to this important role,” said QSB’s Dean Saunders in his announcement to faculty and staff.

In addition to extensive teaching experience in Queen’s MBA programs, Professor Murray, BSc’85, MBA’87, PhD (UWO), led the committee that recommended the successful strategic redesign and repositioning of Queen’s full-time MBA.

Since 2004, Professor Murray has been the Director of Queen’s Centre for Business Venturing. Under her leadership, the Centre initiated a multi-million dollar venture capital fund, leads the development of entrepreneurship courses and competitions in the School, and conducts practitioner-oriented research into small- and medium-sized businesses.

As a complement to her work in the new venture field, she specializes in the management of change. In 2002, she co-authored a book, Fast Forward: Organizational Change in 100 Days, with QSB Strategy and Organization Professor Peter Richardson.

Prior to joining Queen’s in 1996, Professor Murray worked in industry at Canada Systems Group, IBM and Canadian Tire. She takes over the role of Associate Dean from Professor Bill Blake, who held the position from 2003 until his term expired on July 1, 2009.

CFA Institute, the global association for investment professionals that awards the prestigious CFA® designation, is pleased to welcome Queen’s School of Business (QSB) as a CFA Program Partner.

Representatives from QSB, CFA Institute and Toronto CFA Society met today for an official signing ceremony to celebrate the partnership.

Three programs at Queen’s School of Business – the Bachelor of Commerce, MSc in Finance and MBA program – have all been aligned as CFA Program Partners. CFA Institute partners with a limited number of globally diverse institutions whose degree programs cover at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, including the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

QSB students will benefit from free online resources offered by CFA Institute, including SmartBrief, a daily email alert on top stories in the financial industry, access to industry publications, and scholarship opportunities.

“The CFA designation is the gold standard for investment professionals and we are privileged to be one of an elite group of CFA Institute’s global university program partners,” said Sean Cleary, CFA, BMO professor of Finance and director of the Master of Management in Finance at Queen’s School of Business. “I am confident that our students, faculty and corporate recruiting partners with reap the benefits of this important relationship.”

In welcoming Queen’s School of Business, Bob McLean, CFA, head of university relations at CFA Institute stated, “As a CFA Program Partner, Queen’s School of Business joins a small number of high-profile institutions around the world.  There are only 103 partner universities at the present time.  Partners receive a full set of CFA Institute publications, have access to more than 600 CFA Institute webcasts, and are recognized on the CFA Institute website.”

CFA Institute
CFA Institute is the global association for the investment profession. It administers the CFA and CIPM curriculum and exam programs worldwide; publishes research; conducts professional development programs; and sets voluntary, ethics-based professional and performance-reporting standards for the investment industry. CFA Institute has nearly 100,000 members, who include the world’s 85,000 CFA charterholders, in 134 countries and territories, as well as 136 affiliated professional societies in 57 countries and territories. More information may be found at www.cfainstitute.org.

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

Queen’s School of Business
Queen’s School of Business is one of the world’s premier business schools — renowned for exceptional programs, outstanding faculty and research, and the quality of its graduates. Canadian executives regard Queen’s as Canada’s most innovative business school, offering students academic excellence and a superior overall experience. Queen’s School of Business — where Canada’s first Commerce program was launched in 1919— is located at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. The School also delivers programs at locations across Canada, as well in the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates.

Toronto CFA Society
Toronto CFA Society is a not-for-profit organization supporting professional development and advancement of CFA charterholders.  The society provides member services including educational programs, sponsored events, job postings and networking opportunities. 

Founded in 1936, the Society is affiliated with CFA Institute, the global body that administers the Chartered Financial Analyst curriculum and sets voluntary, ethics-based performance-reporting standards for the investment industry.  With over 7,000 members, Toronto CFA Society is the 2nd largest in the world, after New York.  For more information, please refer to www.torontocfa.ca 

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Media Contacts

CFA Institute
Kathy Valentine, Public Relations Director (The Americas)
434-951-5348
kathy.valentine@cfainstitute.org

Queen’s School of Business
Amber Wallace, Associate Director, External Relations
613-533-3151
awallace@business.queensu.ca  

Toronto CFA Society
Sara Maginn Pacella, Manager External Communication & Member Services
416-366-5755 x 225
spacella@torontocfa.ca

The Cornell-Queen’s Executive MBA Class of 2011 began their opening session last month with a record number of program participants – up 18% percent from the last class.

The program, which is delivered by residential sessions and via live, multipoint, interactive videoconferencing to major cities in the United States and Canada, was established in 2005 through a partnership between the two schools.

Participants earn both a Queen’s MBA and a Cornell MBA in 18 months, while continuing to work. This year Canadian teams are located in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton. Across the US the program is offered in Seattle, Portland, New York, Ithaca, Salem, Washington D.C., Dallas, Houston and Atlanta.

For more information on how to earn two world-class MBA degrees while continuing to work, visit Cornell-Queen’s EMBA.

Five QSB alumni were recently elected Fellows of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. The Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) designation, the highest that the Institute confers in recognition of career achievements and leadership contributions to the community and the accounting profession, was awarded to:

Karyn Brooks, BCom’76
Carol Devenny, BCom’82
John MacIntyre, BCom’78
Brenda Vince, BCom’77
Benita Warmbold, BCom’80

Both Brenda Vince and Benita Warmbold sit on the QSB Advisory Board.