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“There is a real insistence [at UST] that all theories and ideas be translated into meaningful applications, and I think this reflects our distinct competitive advantage as a business school.” - Peter Young |
If you have ever been so excited for school to start year after year that you believe September 1 should be New Year’s Day, you are not alone. Dr. Peter Young holds that belief too, and it’s possible he came to that conclusion due to a genetic pre-disposition.
Dr. Young comes from a family of teachers. His parents both taught at a state college in South Dakota, and all of his siblings have become teachers or professors. With a Ph.D. in risk management from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Young has historically focused his research on public risk issues, but for the past several years he has transitioned his work to pursuing a better understanding of risk leadership in both the public and private sectors. Specifically, what is top management’s role in establishing risk policy and how do they ensure their strategic approach is effectively implemented? (For a list of his publications, please visit his profile.)
Dr. Young has taught at the University of St. Thomas since 1994. Throughout his career at St. Thomas, Dr. Young has been an endowed chair, which is unusual. He was previously the EW Blanch Chair in Risk Management, and just this fall, it was announced that he would be moved to the 3M Chair in International Business. In response to this distinction, he noted, “3M is a great company and it will be very helpful to have the firm’s engagement in my/our work...the association with 3M will lend a valuable level of visibility and credibility to (our global business education) efforts.”
The UST MBA programs have several unique, competitive advantages, and Dr. Young summed one of them up well when he said, “There is a real insistence that all theories and ideas be translated into meaningful applications, and I think this reflects our distinct competitive advantage as a business school.”
In addition to faculty steeped in theoretical understanding AND practical application, a UST MBA advantage is that our faculty engage with students in a more personal, meaningful way. In Dr. Young’s words, “The enthusiasm with which former students have stayed in touch and have shared their personal and professional paths tells me I had SOME kind of impact…though it is not always clear whether that impact was actually teaching them something or just being interested in them. Nevertheless, I do believe our personal engagement with our students is a hallmark of the UST MBA."
This impact, he stated, is as rewarding to him as it was to his parents many years ago. Congratulations on your new appointment Dr. Young; we are happy to have your continued work in the UST MBA programs!
