Banc Grad February 2019

February 2019

Banc Grad Update

70th Session May 19-31, 2019

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Graduate School of Banking at LSU Dedicates Office to Dr. Don L. Woodland

For over half a century, Dr. Don L. Woodland led the Graduate School of Banking at LSU as the school’s Executive Vice President and Director. After having seen the institution through decades of industry and regulatory changes, technological advancements and over 16,000 graduates, Dr. Woodland retired from his position in 2018.

In honor of Dr. Woodland, his leadership, and his years of dedicated service, the GSB board officially dedicated the school office to him and renamed it Woodland Hall at the GSB Fall board meeting in New Orleans on October 12, 2018.

Additionally, the 2018 graduating class donated $750.00 towards a dedication plaque which reads: Woodland Hall – named in honor of Dr. Don L. Woodland, Executive Vice President & Director, Graduate School of Banking at LSU for his 52 years of dedicated leadership from 1966 – 2018. A framed photo of the building and dedication was presented to Dr. Woodland at Antoine’s in New Orleans by GSB Chairman, Bob Taylor.

As GSBLSU looks forward to the future of our school and our industry, we look back fondly and gratefully on the many years Dr. Woodland spent forging the path to success and educational greatness. His legacy as a leader of the school will forever be upheld.

NEW GSBLSU.ORG WEBSITE

For many years, the school has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with Andy Gutowski with 423 Creative. Andy had created and maintained our previous website.

This Summer the staff at GSBLSU met with Andy to discuss our vision for a new website. Of course, we wanted to incorporate our new branding and logo, make the site easier to navigate, and provide visitors with quick and easy access to essential information and features.

The new website was launched in late November. We are excited about our new website and the robust information it provides for banking executives, current and potential students, and our alumni. We are confident our site visitors will have an informative and pleasurable experience no matter what device they are using.

Please visit www.gsblsu.org and take the new website for a test drive.

Expanding the GSBLSU Relationship with LSU

The Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University has enjoyed a good relationship with LSU for nearly 70 years. For all this time we have been a tenant at LSU. We have paid rent to use classrooms and dormitory space and paid for many meals.

This Fall we developed a new enhanced relationship with the Department of Digital and Continuing Education. The Vice Provost for this area of LSU, Sasha Thackaberry, is now a trustee of the school. Together, we are seeking new opportunities to deepen this relationship. This department wants to offer customized online classes for our graduates. We have surveyed our graduates to determine how to meet their needs. We will be using their unique online capabilities to expand our paperless offerings. Please see the article about Moodle below for an example.

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Bank Study Projects to be Hosted Online

With the new relationship with the Department of Digital and Continuing Education, the school is now able to put the Bank Study projects online. We will be using a program called

Moodle which the school will use as we transition to a paperless environment. Moodle is a learning management system that provides an easy to navigate and universally accessible interface. Moodle is secure and student information is private. For example, students will not be able to see each other’s grades or assignments.

Finally, no more making copies of the project, rushing to mail an expensive package, or worrying about delivery. Students will be sent information prior to the session with login information and Moodle instructions on how to upload the bank study projects. Faculty will be able to grade the projects and return grades to students in a timely manner through Moodle.

Alumni Association

Our homepage slideshow has a new slide to announce our alumni association. Our alumni are a very important resource. We actively seek advice from our alumni regarding courses and campus life.

Additionally, your good words always help recruit new students.We want to know how to contact you. We also want to know about the successes in your career. Please update your contact information and send us news about yourself or your fellow graduates.

We will share your good news via social media, the website and this publication. There is an article about a 1992 graduate, Debbie Crowder, in this issue.

The 70th Session of GSBLSU

Since 1950, we have been educating bankers. This year we celebrate our 70th Session. Over 16,000 bankers have graduated from the school. We are proud to have played a part in supporting our great banking industry over this period.
Our graduates are our greatest ambassadors. We noted our new alumni efforts above. You are in a unique position to recommend the school to your associates and others. Just click here to make a referral. We will contact the prospective student and make sure they receive the appropriate materials.

Our alumni are always welcomed during the session. A wonderful time to visit is on “State Night”. This is a reception on the first Wednesday night for all students and is hosted by our sponsoring state associations.

The 70th Session will be held May 19 – 31. Applicants may apply by clicking here.

Rita Floyd

Pamela Ricco

Accrued Interest

Peter Drucker once said, “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” We are putting Drucker’s comments to action in terms of curriculum changes for 2019, and we are emphasizing ethical decision making as part of leadership in the financial services industry. As part of that effort, we are pleased to introduce two new upper-level courses focused on different facets of ethical leadership: Leadership Inside and Outside the Bank and Leading through Advocacy.

When it comes to leading and managing, are you a Lion, a Fox, a Clydesdale, or a St. Bernard? Rita Floyd, Director of Organizational Development at Trustmark National Bank, will help you answer that question in Leadership Inside and Outside the Bank, a new required senior course for 2019. Rita will emphasize the importance of ethical leadership, the critical difference between leading and managing, how to effectively deal with conflict, and the role of bankers as stewards in their community. She will also help you examine the pitfalls to effective leadership, determine ways to foster better communication, and learn tips and tools to help bankers understand “self” and the impact “self” has on the thoughts and actions of others.

A new faculty member at GSBLSU in 2019, Rita has worked in banking for 34 years in various capacities, but the major portion of this time in the Human Resources field. Her current role involves directing the Learning and Development function which encompasses Career Coaching, Team Effectiveness and Assessment Services, Talent Management, Succession Planning, Performance Management, 360 Degree Multi-rater Feedback, Mentorship and Training. She received her Master’s degree in Human Resources from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and she was chosen by the Mississippi Business Journal as one of the 50 leading Business Women in 2009. Putting her experience to practice, Rita extends her work in learning and development beyond the walls of Trustmark by serving as an Adjunct Professor at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi.

Leading through Advocacy, a new Junior/Senior elective for 2019, is an interactive course designed to educate baking leaders on the purpose of grassroots involvement in political campaigns and policy discussions. Pamela Ricco, EVP and Chief Operating Officer at the Florida Bankers Association, will highlight the importance of local, state and federal advocacy for all bankers, covering best practices and demonstrating how advocacy has significantly impacted the banking industry over the last ten years. Pamela will also address the role of state and national trade associations in advocacy initiatives.

Also a new faculty member at GSBLSU in 2019, Pamela, oversees all membership functions of the Florida Bankers Association, including Education, the Florida Bankers Education Foundation, Communications & Marketing, the Trust Division and all non-dues revenue programs. Pamela also serves as President and CEO of FBA BancServ, Inc., the association’s wholly owned for-profit subsidiary. She holds a bachelors degree from the University of Alabama and two masters degrees from Florida State University. She is member of the Board of Trustees at Florida House, Florida’s state embassy on Capitol Hill, and she serves as a director at SelectSouce, a third-party administrator for the Florida Bankers Insurance Trust.

Mike Highfield, PhD, CFA, CTP
Vice President for Curriculum, GSBLSU
Professor of Finance, Mississippi State University