MEDIA RESOURCES

 

CONTACT: communications@mail.cox.smu.edu

DALLAS, Texas (SMU) – Because of tough economic conditions, the dream of an MBA is not a reality for everyone. That is why SMU’s Cox School of Business developed the SMU Working Professional MBA Scholarship – to make the dream of professional and personal advancement a reality for someone who might not otherwise have the opportunity. In September, a random drawing from more than 2,600 registrants selected the winner of the SMU Working Professional MBA Scholarship. The full-tuition scholarship will be awarded to Kerri Henning Sallusti, program manager at Blockbuster, Inc., Wednesday, November 20, at Noon, at Blockbuster’s corporate headquarters.

“I have spent the past year researching MBA programs in the Dallas area with the knowledge that, in the foreseeable future, earning an MBA would not be financially possible,” said Sallusti. “But all that changed a few weeks ago, when I received a phone call that had the potential to altar my life forever. Suddenly what I had considered my long-term goals were actually achievable in the near future.”

Sallusti’s experience encompasses a vast array of marketing and advertising initiatives. As program manager for Blockbuster, Inc., she spearheads marketing programs and member services for the multi-million dollar company. Previous to Blockbuster, she served as account supervisor for AT&T Broadband Rewards where she generated a 36 percent response rate by initiating the first e-mail communication to Rewards members.

“Throughout my career, I gained the confidence and respect of my clients, both internal and external,” she said. “My clients realize that I have their best interests at heart – and that my ethics in serving them and promoting their organizations are second to none.”
Sallusti will begin the Professional MBA Program in January 2003. After receiving her MBA, she hopes to reach her long-term goal of teaching at the college level.
“Kerri exemplifies the character and quality we look for in MBA applicants,” said Marci Armstrong, associate dean of MBA Programs. “She has outstanding experience that will add value to the school, the classroom, and her fellow classmates.”

The SMU Working Professional MBA Scholarship is a way of giving back to the community in a way that benefits employees and employers alike. The Cox School is committed to building a better Dallas business community by transforming business professionals into business leaders through its MBA programs for working professionals: the Professional MBA and the Executive MBA. The scholarship promotion ran August 12 - September 8, 2002, and garnered more than 2,600 online registrations. Registrants could select either the Professional MBA Program or the Executive MBA program, based on meeting the stated admissions criteria. The awarding of the scholarship was also dependent on the winner meeting all admissions criteria for the selected program.

SMU’s Cox School of Business offers a full range of business education programs, from BBA and full-time MBA to Professional MBA (PMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA), and Executive Education. The Cox School is the only school in Texas and one of only 27 in the United States to appear in rankings released by the six major publications that rank graduate business programs, including Business Week, The Economist, Financial Times, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and The Wall Street Journal. In addition, the school's Business Leadership Center (BLC), Caruth Institute, American Airlines Global Leadership Program (GLP), and Associate Board executive mentoring program are recognized nationally and internationally.