Contact:
Ted Cox
Phone: 314.977.2064

June 21, 2006

Dr. Ellen Harshman, dean of the John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University, has announced an initiative to move the school forward in its recognition of the education it offers to women leaders in business.

Ellen Harshman, Ph.D.

At a luncheon attended by alumnae representing seven decades of female graduates of the school, Harshman outlined plans for providing long-term financial support for an endowed professorship in honor of Dr. Gladys Gruenberg, professor emeritus of economics at the Cook School.

“Not only was Dr. Gruenberg the first woman to be a tenured faculty member in the school of business, she also utilized her role to support women who were trying to advance themselves in business through enrolling in MBA programs here at Saint Louis University,” said Dr. Harshman. “Through support secured from the Monticello Foundation, she led efforts to provide scholarship funding for women MBA students, as well as programming for personal professional development.”

Dr. Gruenberg completed her Ph.D. from Saint Louis University in 1952 and was a full-time faculty member of the economics department from 1949-55 and 1969-83. She taught classes in labor economics, collective bargaining and labor law. In addition to her role as director of the women’s MBA program, she also was founder and co-director of the personnel and industrial relations program, and faculty advisor to the Society for Human Resource Management.

Cook School alumnae can support the endowed professorship by joining the Gruenberg Society, which offers professional development and networking events to its members.

“I am thrilled about this initiative and hope the Gruenberg Society becomes a network to provide mentors for women business school graduates for years to come,” said Gruenberg.

Endowed professorships at the Saint Louis University John Cook School of Business provide support and adequately compensate current faculty developing national and international reputations. Endowed professorships also provide the resources for the University to continue its commitment to nurture an intellectually rigorous academic community and are critical to recruiting and retaining world class faculty.

For more information on the Gruenberg Society and the Cook School of Business, contact Ted Cox at (314) 977-2064 or Candice Michaelson at (314) 977-8319.