KENOSHA, Wis. – Carthage College invites the community to a grand opening celebration for its School of Business and Economics, which encompasses several of the college’s most popular degree programs.
The opening event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 5, in the A.W. Clausen Center for World Business. It will begin with a 4 p.m. reception, followed at 5:30 by a keynote presentation from Morningstar CEO Kunal Kapoor.
There is no admission charge, but advance registration is required at www.carthage.edu/rsvp-sobe by March 31. The Clausen Center is located at the north end of the Carthage campus, 2001 Alford Park Drive.
Already, about one-fourth of Carthage’s undergraduate students major in accounting, economics, finance, management, or marketing, and the graduate business program offers tracks in sports management and business design/innovation. This new organizational structure brings faculty from those thriving departments together under one umbrella.
The new collaborative model promises to expand hands-on learning and pave the way for new programs and partnerships in emerging fields. Input from prominent alumni and regional employers will continually inform the curriculum.
In his featured talk, Kapoor will discuss the value of education in the business world, the future of investing, and how to successfully navigate changing economic conditions.
Based in Chicago, Morningstar provides tools and services for investors. After joining the company in 1997, Kapoor rose through a variety of roles to become chief executive in 2017.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and environmental policy from Monmouth College in Illinois and a master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago. He serves as a trustee for The Nature Conservancy in Illinois and previously held a seat on the board at PitchBook.
“Growing from data analyst to CEO in 20 years at Morningstar with expertise in strategic planning, product development and innovation, Kunal Kapoor’s rise mirrors an exciting vision we have for the new school,” said Jim Padilla, dean of the new School of Business and Economics at Carthage. “Kunal’s success and achievements represent what is possible with a business-focused liberal arts degree.”
Padilla arrived last summer to direct the school’s launch after leading a similar program at Loras College in Iowa. Along with a teaching background in sports management, law, and ethics, he brings more than two decades of executive experience in specialized insurance.
NOTE TO EDITORS: A high-resolution photo of keynote speaker Kunal Kapoor is attached for your use.
