Alumnae/i and faculty of the Simmons School of Management recently gathered at the UMass Club on Beacon Street to celebrate the new School of Management Dean, Dr. Astrid Sheil. The event, co-hosted by Trustees Denise Coll ’95MBA and April Evans ’91MBA, included Anne Jardim '13HD, who founded Simmons University School of Business in 1974.
The evening’s speakers addressed a large, energetic group of alumnae/i, faculty, and staff.
In her welcoming remarks, President Lynn Perry Wooten referred to the “framework” of Simmons’ women-centered MBA program as established by Jardim and her colleague, Margaret Hennig, in their book, The Managerial Woman (Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1977).
“Ahead of its time, this framework became the foundation for Simmons’ groundbreaking women-centered MBA program that has helped so many women grow and thrive in their careers,” said Wooten. “As an academic who has studied and written about women’s leadership throughout [my] career — particularly in the fields of business and management — the Simmons School of Management and its longstanding leadership in these areas are near and dear to my heart.”
Former Dean of the School of Management (2004–2010) Deborah Merrill-Sands shared her reflections on her time at Simmons, and the sense of connection she still shares with the SOM.
“What has distinguished the School over time is its strong sense of community, its inspired mission of educating women for power and leadership, and the transformational experience it has provided to students and alums, as well as faculty and staff.”
The SOM’s mission to educate women for power and principled leadership inspired Merrill-Sands and many others. However, times have changed since then, as women’s rights and aspirations are, yet again, under threat.
“In this climate, I would argue that the mission of the School of Management is as vital today as it ever has been. It can serve as a beacon of hope, of resilience, and, I would argue, even resistance.”
In her remarks, Dean Sheil recalls her experiences upon arriving at Simmons in mid-July and sifting through boxes filled with School of Management records and memories collected over the years. “It looked like much of the history of the school had been stored away for an extended period of time. So I started talking to people and asking questions,” said Sheil. What she learned from alumnae/i who had graduated from the (then) Graduate School of Management were stories about an educational experience described as “life-altering, spectacularly preparatory for the real world, and magical.”
These comments made a profound impact on Sheil. “In my entire life, I had never heard anyone describe an MBA program as magical.”
That MBA program, led by Hennig and Jardim, was the first of its kind and, according to Sheil, “established Simmons as a leading voice for women in business, gender equity, and social justice.”
Sheil’s goal is to “bring back the School of Management to the expectations of the alumnae/i.” Sheil sees a path forward that honors the past and builds on that success while accepting the shifting needs of today’s students. She noted that, in regard to the Business Management Degree (BSBA), “The world of commerce is expecting our graduates to know data analytics, have an entrepreneurial mindset, hone leadership skills, and cultivate the ability to think across domains.”
Dean Sheil appealed to alumnae/i of the program to share their time and talents to move the School forward. “Whether it is through mentoring, identifying internships, speaking in classes, or more, you are needed and welcomed every day in the School of Management.”