Van R. Wood

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth professor Van R. Wood loves traveling. He’s flown to Sudan, lived in Latin America and sailed to Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong. He’s taught in Melbourne, Marseilles, San Juan and Honolulu. This is partly why Wood is the Phillip Morris Endowed Chair of International Business.

But don’t mistake him as the chairman of Philip Morris USA. The 56-year-old professor of international marketing holds the chair because of the $2 million Phillip Morris gave to the VCU in order to create this position.

Wood applied for the office and was chosen by the Richmond-based conglomerate because of his previous roles in the academics of international business, marketing and management.

According to his biography, Wood has specialized in international business, global marketing and trade for more than 25 years. His relationship with the firm CIDEME in the late ‘70s led to work in the U.S., Europe, Japan and the Middle East.

During 12 years at Texas Tech University, Wood developed international programs and guided seminars on global business strategies. He consulted and presented his work in almost every continent with the only exception being Antarctica.

After accepting the Philip Morris Chair in 1994, Wood has produced and moderated 13 international forums. Topics ranged from conducting business in China, Russia and Latin America to “The Role of the Community in Sustaining Global Competitiveness”. He’s received VCU’s School of Business Award of Excellence in 2000 for “outstanding research, teaching and service” and also the Award of Distinguished Teaching in 2006.

Department of Marketing Chairman Frank Franzak speaks highly of his colleague’s work.

“He’s always out in the community, talking to companies, talking to organizations both in Richmond, Washington D.C. and beyond,” Franzak said.

Wood’s travels and international experiences serve as the reasons behind him promoting students learning overseas.

“Travel is the one experience that allows for great change in a positive way,” Wood says. “Do yourself a favor go and study abroad…learn another language…immerse yourself.”

Wood remembers his experience living in Latin American for five years. Not knowing the language completely was a hurdle for him that he later overcame.

“During the first six months I didn’t have the language,” he says. “You had to take your ego and put it in your back pocket. But then the spider webs started taking pattern. Then I started teaching Spanish. It really skyrocketed my proficiency.”

“I feel most alive where I’m truly most illiterate,” Wood said. “I don’t read, I don’t speak and I don’t write…You start seeing what your worth. It’s a real fine experience.”

A successful student in international business not only travels. They must understand all aspects of business such as marketing, accounting and economics. Wood also believes successful students must possess certain “attributes.”

Attributes are not taught here at VCU, Wood says. They are learned before you come to college, during your stay and forever afterwards.

“You learn those throughout a lifetime,” Wood says. “Those things include a sense of right from wrong, moral values, ethical standards. They include high energy and the ability to work all day and work all night. They include the ability to truly be a globalist or cross-cultural person”.

Wood also believes that the majority of VCU’s current business students, whom he calls his “raw material” to groom and shape, now possess such attributes, skills and knowledge.

“It really is a completely different entity than what we were what it was 14 years ago,” he says. With the changes in curriculum, what we teach, the technology we use to teach it with, the breadth of knowledge, and insights we bring to the table…we have improved dramatically.”

Despite the improvements made during his tenure at VCU, Wood still sees room for improvements. He hopes to merge departments within the business school.

“Instead of having a marketing class, you have a class with a marking professor, accounting professor; a financing professor and they’re all integrated together saying here this is what you need to know,” Wood said.

Wood encourages students to not limit themselves to their major or concentration.

“What do you know about engineering? What do you know about life sciences? What do you know about computer sciences? What do you know about history? You should be fully educated.”

Haskins Promotes Political Engagement

RICHMOND, Va. – Now more than ever, it’s important for journalists to be credible and knowledgeable, says a former blogger.

Conaway Haskins believes professional journalists, specifically broadcast journalists, are essential to informing the public about politics. However, they don’t always correctly relay the information to the public.

“You can look at this when you watch CNN,” Haskins said. “They parade out a democrat and a republican and the journalist basically moderates…Nobody asks the questions of how or why. I think that does a real disservice to the public.”

Haskins remarks came during a lecture to students in a Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) journalism class.

The founder of Southofthejames.com, he attributes the lack of providing correct information to a lack of understanding.

Haskins believes the general population is not as attuned to political issues as it is to issues involving sports or entertainment and cites the highly publicized Britney Spears and Kevin Federline relationship as an example.

Math was also a notable part of Haskins lecture.

“Did you know that black males who don’t earn a high school degree have a 60 percent chance of going to jail,” Haskins said. “And a 30 percent chance if they [black men] graduate with a degree.”

Haskins encouraged future journalists to educate themselves about politics and global issues.

“No generation can afford not to be engaged,” Haskins said.

Conaway B. Haskins III is currently the Deputy State Director for U.S. Sen. James H. Webb (D-Virginia). Haskins’ job entails a number of duties. His department aids citizens when problems arise, secures grants, and nominates students to service academies like West Point. Haskins’ blog, titled South of The James, delved into topics concerning culture, media and politics in Metro Richmond, The Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond, according to the blog’s web site.

In Five Years

In five years, I plan to be a reporter, editor or anchor, working in the sports department. My dream job: an anchor on the 10 p.m. newscast on ESPN. I wouldn’t mind working on the NFL Network because of my love for American football. A six-figure salary would be optimum. Hopefully I’ll attain a paid internship with ESPN.

I will attain these goals through hard work, dedication and a positive attitude. I will excel by studying all of the major sports played nationally and internationally. I will also read essential literature concerning broadcast writing skills, print journalism writing skills, grammar, punctuation and style.

I will become proficient the latest audio and video software through hands-on experimentation and thorough research.

I will build contacts through networking, communicating with veterans of the business and gaining as many references as I possibly can.

What I truly want to be, though, is financially secure and independent. My parents have preached that fiscal responsibility is the key to success. I plan on using this golden rule and other lessons I’ve learned throughout my life so I can live cleanly and comfortably.