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Ciocca Center Announces New Director

Rob Murner at head of class

“I’m very honored and excited to take part in continuing the excellent programs that David, Cassie, and Kathy have developed” shares Rob Murner, new director of the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society “and we’re already in the planning stages for where we take the Center next!”

Rob joined Holy Cross in the spring of 2019 as an adjunct professor to teach the Business Fundamentals Lab. Commenting on his new role at the College, Rob states “I’m especially looking forward to meeting and interacting with the students and my door is always open.”

Prior to teaching he spent 30 years as a strategic and global executive where he focused on building enterprise value for public, private, and start-up organizations in the aerospace & defense, materials sciences, healthcare, manufacturing, and software industries. His work included engineering, program management, sales/marketing, company turnarounds, teaching/coaching, and corporate financial management to include international banking.

Drawing on these experiences we can foresee the Center to develop “an alumni-student mentoring program, and various efforts to connect with local business communities.” Rob goes on to share that “we will be initiating an outside-in look at what we have to offer and will be soliciting input from students, parents, alumni, businesses, and partner organizations within the College.”

Rob is a graduate of the University of Michigan (aerospace engineering), and Wright State University (MBA). He is a life member of the Beta Gamma Sigma academic honor society and U of M alumni community. He has conducted business in several countries including China, Taiwan, Canada, Europe, and Russia.

Rob started his career in the United States Air Force where he took part in the development of several aircraft, space, and jet propulsion systems. He lives in Shrewsbury Mass with his wife of 32 years, Christine.
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Prof. David Chu Announces Retirement After 31 Years

David Chu, associate professor of accounting and director of the College’s Carlyse and  Arthur A. Ciocca ’59 Center for Business, Ethics, and Society has announced that he will be retiring at the end of this academic year, closing a 31-year career at Holy Cross.

Chu joined the Holy Cross faculty in 1991 and was promoted to associate
professor in 1997. “I have had a wonderful 31-year career at Holy Cross, starting in the fall of 1991 as an accounting professor in the economics department, and subsequently directing the business program for the last 16 years,” he says. “I am extremely grateful for all the support and camaraderie given to me by the administration, colleagues, and alumni.”

Cassie Gevry, associate director, and Kathy Kinnarney, program coordinator, of the Ciocca Center, share that he will be missed for his leadership, support, and friendship over the years.  Students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni should continue to connect with the Ciocca Center through these contacts.

The College community wishes David a happy and healthy retirement!

Read the announcement in the Holy Cross Magazine and the interview by Conor Joslin ’23 on the blog.

 
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Prof. Chu Reflects on Career at Holy Cross
Group of students with Prof. Chu
Prof. Chu with participants of the 2011 Summer Business Program.

Conor Joslin ’23, the student intern for the Ciocca Center for Business, Ethics, and Society,  interviewed Prof. David Chu upon hearing about his retirement at the end of the current academic year.

CJ: Let’s start with a little background about your pre-Holy Cross life.

DC: I grew up in Hong Kong and came over to the United States for college. I went to a small college called Anderson College, where there were 2,000 undergraduate students. Anderson College is a liberal arts institution and I majored in accounting and business, which enabled me to study accounting and business while fulfilling all of the liberal arts requirements; so I had a very well rounded education. Then I went to graduate school at Indiana University in Bloomington where I got my MBA and went on to get a PHD. I then taught at Indiana University while my wife was finishing up her medical training. After that, we decided to look around, and Holy Cross offered me a position, which I was very thankful for. My wife also got a job at what was then called the Fallon Clinic, and we moved out here. I started in the fall of 1991, and it has been a great career since.

CJ: What are your roles and responsibilities as the director of the Ciocca Center?  What are the more challenging aspects of your job? Continue reading “Prof. Chu Reflects on Career at Holy Cross”