From MSU Today on Impact Radio: David Griffith is an associate professor of marketing in the Eli Broad College of Business at MSU. He studies the importance of managers as a key drivers of global business success.

A significant amount of his research focuses on what managers bring to firms and whether this is called human capital or intangible capital. He describes soft skills, too, that are important to managers’ success.

Griffith talks about the skills today’s marketing students will need to learn to succeed in the global marketplace, and he looks at the marketing challenges emerging today.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 24:57 - 14.3 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: Ron Calhoun of MSU Extension and MSU’s renowned turf grass program visits with his lawn care tips for fall.

“Given the way our cool-season grasses grow, our lawns are gearing up for 2009 in late 2008,” says Calhoun.

Calhoun gives his tips on mowing, watering, and fertilizing and says its better for our lawns if we mulch our leaves rather than rake them up.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 14:04 - 8.1 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: Nine-time Grammy Award-winning jazz musician Wynton Marsalis has been commissioned by the MSU College of Music, the Wharton Center for Performing Arts and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to create a new piece of music that celebrates Michigan. The world premiere of the piece will be performed by Marsalis with the MSU Symphony Orchestra and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on September 24 at Wharton Center.

Rodney Whitaker, director of jazz studies at MSU’s College of Music, began the process in 2005 to commission Marsalis, his longtime friend and mentor.

“He’s one of the leading musicians of our time,” says Whitaker. “He’s an icon even to classical players.”

Marsalis will be on the MSU campus as an artist-in-residence from Sept. 22-25 to work with music students who make up the 110-member MSU Symphony Orchestra, to share his vision of the commission and to pass on some of his knowledge and opinions about music, culture and the arts.

Whitaker also talks about the jazz studies program he leads at MSU and about the state of jazz music around the world.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 15:42 - 9 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon talks about the state of State as Fall Semester 2008 opens.

She describes the make-up of this year’s incoming class and highlights the importance of the annual One Book One Community program. She details MSU’s important quest to land the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams - a half-billion dollar federal science project for nuclear science research.

President Simon also tells us about MSU’s agreement with Munson Medical Center of Traverse City to establish a new medical campus in northern Michigan.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 17:39 - 10.1 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: From 1983 to 2003, nearly 27,000 young boys and men fled civil war in the Republic of Sudan. These “Lost Boys of Sudan” trekked 1,000 miles across Africa only to face starvation, wild animals and disease.

Benjamin Ajak of the San Diego area, a Lost Boy and co-author of “They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky,” relates his personal journey to freedom while in East Lansing as part of “One Book, One Community” events.

Ajak is joined by his American mentor, Judy A. Bernstein of San Diego, who, along with Ajak, and his cousins Benson and Alepho Deng, wrote the book detailing each man’s personal story.

The “One Book, One Community” project, co-sponsored by the city of East Lansing and MSU, encourages the city-university community to read the same book and come together to discuss it in a variety of settings. The book is assigned reading for all incoming MSU freshmen.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 9:41 - 5.5 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: Mike Brand is executive director of MSU’s renowned Wharton Center for Performing Arts.

Nine-time Grammy Award winner Wynton Marsalis is coming to Wharton Center for a celebration of jazz and a world premiere of a new piece celebrating Michigan composed by Marsalis and performed by the combined talents of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and the MSU Symphony Orchestra.

The performance, which showcases the new work, is part of multi-day artist-in-residence from September 22-25, during which Marsalis will work with students from MSU, Interlochen Arts Academy, and select area high schools.

“We’re extremely proud to be hosting Wynton at Michigan State as a 2008-2009 artist-in-residence,” says Brand. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to learn from a musical legend and audiences to share in an historical evening of new jazz.”

Brand also discusses Wharton Center’s mission, the challenges and opportunities facing the performing arts industry, and Wharton’s MSUFCU Institute for Arts and Creativity.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 21:52 - 12.5 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: Timothy and Bernadette Marquez, through The Timothy and Bernadette Marquez Foundation, have committed $7 million to the MSU College of Nursing. The largest gift in the college’s history, the commitment will be used to help fund a new nursing addition to the MSU Life Sciences Building.

“Notably, this gift is the single largest philanthropic commitment in the college’s history,” says College of Nursing Dean Mary Mundt. “Bernadette Marquez’ endorsement of this project embodies her personal value of the education she received and the couple’s belief that a nursing education from MSU should be accessible to future generations of students at all levels.”

Dean Mundt talks about the mission of MSU’s College of Nursing and how this important gift will help the college continue to help address the nationwide nursing shortage.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 11:50 - 6.8 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: Rick Shipman directs MSU’s Office of Financial Aid.

Determining who will cover the college expenses and how an education at MSU will be paid for can be a tense conversation between a parent and college student. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a necessary one, says Rick Shipman, director of the Office of Financial Aid.

“One of the most important conversations that should be held prior to a student entering college is ‘The Money Talk’ with parents,” he says. “As uncomfortable as it might be, having the discussion before school starts will ensure a happy college experience for the entire family.”

Shipman advises parents to clearly convey to their students which expenses they will cover and the way in which they will cover them. Also, Shipman says, if a student is expected to help cover expenses, they must know how to go about it.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 21:37 - 12.4 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: Making sure their students will be living on a safe campus is one of the biggest concerns when parents send their kids off to college. In addition to the resources already in place at MSU, Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor of MSU Police says there are a variety of proactive measures students can take to remain safe and healthy during their time in college.

Such tips include walking in well-lit areas, going out with a group of friends, utilizing the Night Owl service from CATA, signing up for MSU ETXT and locking up doors and personal belongings. And of course, “Anytime you see things suspicious or out of place, call 911 immediately,” McGlothian-Taylor says. “Too often, people wait.”

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 13:43 - 7.9 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: The Great Lakes Folk Festival showcases the traditional cultural treasures of the nation’s Upper Midwest and a sampling of the best of traditional artists from around the country and the world.

The free, unique fusion of arts fair, music festival, county fair, multi-ethnic festival, hands-on activity workshops and celebration of cultural heritage will be held Aug 8-10, 2008 in downtown East Lansing.

Marsha MacDowell and Patrick Power from the Festival staff tell us all about the activities, music, and food at the 2008 edtion of the Great Lakes Folk Festival, which is produced by the Michigan Traditional Arts Program at the Michigan State University Museum.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 19:03 - 10.9 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: MSU sports medicine physician Larry Nassar will be on the sidelines as team physician for the U.S. men’s and women’s gymnastics teams at the Olympics in Beijing this summer when this year’s teams are on the floor.

Nassar talks about his role with the teams in Beijing. And he talks about the growth of MSU Sports Medicine. He tells us of his new Website, too, Gymnastics Doctor.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 14:36 - 8.4 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: Peter Briggs is director of MSU’s Office for International Students and Scholars. Briggs says his office “sets the campus tone of a welcoming global international university.”

MSU anticipates enrolling a high number of international students for fall 2008.

Briggs describes how we can all help international students assimilate to the United States and gives some cross-cultural communication tips. And he says that international students are not taking away spots at MSU from qualified Michigan residents.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 9:18 - 5.3 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: Sam Puryear is men’s golf coach at MSU.

He talks about his coaching philosophy and where he wants to take the program. He says northern schools have as good a shot at national titles as southern schools do. He also discusses his passion for bringing golf to minority young people.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 7:07 - 4.1 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon have joined with business, labor and economic development leaders to announce a united Michigan campaign to help MSU win a national competition for the $550 million Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Levin has pledged his support for the massive project along with Gov. Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Reps. John Dingell and Mike Rogers.

The facility would bring in $1 billion in economic activity and 400 new jobs to Michigan, generating $187 million in new tax revenues over the next 20 years if it is located at MSU, according to an economic and fiscal impact analysis by Anderson Economic Group.

Reported by Russ White.

Hear the news report 10:08 - 5.8 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: John Engstrom manages MSU’s beloved Dairy Store.

Engstrom talks about all the delicious ice cream and cheese made at the MSU Dairy Store.

“We love what we do and we put a lot of love into our products,” Engstrom says. “Our ice cream has a clean flavor, and we keep it on the sweet side!”

“As part of the Dairy Foods Complex at MSU, the Dairy Store helps meet the teaching, research and outreach needs of the University community and dairy food industry,” Engstrom adds. “While operated as an outlet for products manufactured in our Dairy Plant, the Dairy Store also is a focal point for educational and public relations activities for the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.”

Engstrom takes listeners on a tour of the MSU Dairy Store complex.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 13:47 - 7.9 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: Jennifer Sowa is the team leader for the environmental stewardship communications team at MSU. MSU has established an expansive environmental stewardship effort called Be Spartan Green. The goal is to make deep changes in ways the campus community addresses environmental stewardship – from recycling office paper and turning off lights to MSU’s place in the world’s carbon exchange.

The programs “5 R’s” recommend that we all reduce, reuse and recycle, research and reeducate, redesign, and rethink our approach to environmental stewardship.

“We’re looking at longterm cultural change at MSU,” Sowa says. “Environmental stewardship is who we are as Spartans.”

Sowa suggests 5 things you can do today to be Spartan Green.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 19:09 - 11 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: Dennis Martell is coordinator for health education at MSU.

Martell talks about the facts, myths, and misconceptions surrounding the health, alcohol use, and sexuality of today’s college students. He discusses the growing problem of Internet addiction and gives his views on the war on the war on obesity.

And Martell updates the progress of MSU’s groundbreaking social norms project.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 22:55 - 13.1 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: Ron Mason retires from MSU on June 30 after 29 years of service as the winningest coach in college hockey history and, for the last five-and-a-half years, as athletic director.

Mason recalls the highlights from his coaching and athletic director tenures. He discusses how college hockey has changed over the years. And he talks about the key issues facing college athletics.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 11:44 - 6.7 mb mp3

From MSU Today on Impact Radio: Steve Pueppke leads MSU’s Office of Biobased Technologies.

“The bioeconomy means unhooking the oil input into our economy and replacing it with stuff we can grow biologically,” says Peuppke. “That’s everything from wastes to switchgrass to forest resources.”

Pueppke provides an update on the bioeconomy movement at MSU and around the world, and he clears up the misconceptions swirling around the “food vs. fuel” debate. He tells of the latest progress at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and describes his role at the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.

Hosted by Russ White.

Hear the Conversation 20:05 - 11.5 mb mp3

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