Two new awards recognize outstanding academic achievement by Sloan Fellows in the Stanford MSx Program.
The MSx Program academic achievement awards honor Robert L. Joss (right) and George G.C. Parker, who met at Stanford GSB in 1965 and have been friends ever since. | Helen Chang
The awards coincide with the 60th anniversary of the one-year Master of Science in Management program for experienced leaders.
These new academic awards are named in honor of Robert L. Joss, Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Emeritus; and George G.C. Parker, Dean Witter Distinguished Professor of Finance, Emeritus, both of whom have been instrumental in the program’s success over the years.
“Our students, whom we call Sloan Fellows, come to Stanford GSB with a long list of accomplishments as leaders, yet those who excel in class are doing more than just getting good grades. They are also making real contributions to the learning of their colleagues and to academics at Stanford GSB,” said Mike Hochleutner, Director of Stanford MSx Program. “We look forward to bestowing the inaugural academic achievement awards this year at the June commencement ceremony.”
Robert L. Joss Scholars
This new award recognizes the top 10 percent of the MSx Program’s graduating class, and mirrors the Arjay Miller Scholars designation for academic excellence in the MBA Program. Joss, who served as dean from 1999 to 2009, completed every academic program Stanford GSB offers (Sloan ’66, MBA ’67, and PhD ’70), and has demonstrated decades of exceptional leadership at the school and in business.
“This is all a surprise to me, but a very pleasant one, and a wonderful honor,” Joss said. “It’s extra special for me because I started my academic life here as a Sloan Fellow. It’s a nice reconnection with the program.”
The George G.C. Parker Award
This new award includes a cash gift that honors the Sloan Fellow who achieved the highest academic average in the class, and complements the Henry Ford II award for MBA students. Parker served for nearly a decade as faculty director of the Sloan Master’s Program, which later was renamed the Stanford MSx Program. A strong advocate for academic excellence, he was instrumental in advancing the program into a degree-granting program.
“My years as director of the MSx Program — and helping it convert from a certificate program to an a Master of Science in Management degree program — were two of the most satisfying parts of my Stanford GSB career,” Parker said. “I’m exceedingly humbled by the Parker Award.”
Stanford MSx — A One-Year Master’s Program
The MSx Program allows mid-career managers and executives from around the world to earn a Master of Science in Management degree in one year through an academically challenging accelerated program. Coming from professions including financial services, government, social impact, and technology, most Sloan Fellows live on campus during their academic year, with full access to Stanford University’s faculty and resources across all schools and disciplines. In its early years, the program led to a certificate of completion, but since 1977 it has granted a Master’s degree.
“This is a wonderful program, and quite rigorous from an academic point of view” Joss said. “It’s a delightful cohort of students, and over the years the program has gotten better and better.”
Parker agreed. “The MSx Program is a truly unique Stanford GSB experience for a select group of very fortunate executives,” he said. “I am beyond proud to have been associated with it as both teacher and administrator.”
— Beth Jensen
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