How We Got Our Name
Ron Davis accomplished in business what few people dream of achieving. His track record among entrepreneurs is well known. Having traveled the globe, Davis established meaningful relationships and life-long friendships throughout the world. However, success in business isn’t what provides meaning in his life today. Providing upward mobility for youth and a pathway to a better future has been the focus of his life for more than two decades. He believes each individual human being contains within them equal intrinsic value. He values a world where education plays the continuing role of equalizing opportunity for all people to pursue the higher aim of their choice. The newly established Davis School of Business at Colorado Mesa University will provide a legacy for the values Ron Davis believes can enrich the lives of young people through his philanthropy.
In 1998, Davis founded the Guardian Scholars at California State University, Fullerton with a preliminary gift of $250,000. The program derived its name from the fact that nearly all the original recipients were former foster youth, and in some respects lacked the “guardians” needed to provide support and resources to further their education. Hence, the Guardian Scholars program was created to cover the cost of their education and provide support. Perhaps just as important, the scholarship came with mentorship opportunities. The program has graduated more than 700 students since its inception and expanded to more than 70 colleges and universities.
Davis also serves on the board and his service mirrors the values implicit in his philanthropy. He always matches his financial contributions with his time, talent, and treasures. In the case of the Davis School of Business at CMU, his significant investment in CMU scholarships and students will be matched by his tireless efforts on the governing board of the university.
From business executive to philanthropic leader, Davis’ legacy is fixed not in the brick and mortar of buildings, but in the hearts and lives of the people who have knowledge woven into the fabric of their lives and families because of this generosity.
As a student-focused teaching and research department, Colorado Mesa University’s Davis School of Business prepares students to be sound decision makers and serves businesses in the Rocky Mountain region, the nation, and the world. We strive to develop prepared students who demonstrate strong ethical principles, superior critical thinking, effective communication, and robust business acumen.
While Colorado Mesa University continues to mature into an institution of higher education that successfully prepares students from diverse backgrounds to enter careers of their choice, the Davis School of Business has the following vision:
To be the premier school of business in Western Colorado, providing excellence in education by focusing on students through engagement, experiential learning, and community involvement.
Take a look at our plan to incoroporate real-world, applied business related opportunities for students.
Greetings, and thank you for your interest in our School of Business programs. The Davis School of Business (DSB) builds upon the “Teacher-Scholar Model.” Our faculty strives to be excellent teachers while incorporating their research into lectures, students’ projects, and other activities that develop the skills and competencies demanded by today’s organizations and businesses. Most full-time faculty have terminal degrees (PhDs, Doctoral Degree, Juris Doctors, etc.) in their areas of expertise. Moreover, more than 70% of our faculty have professional-practitioner experiences in their domains.
Many potential students and parents ask me what makes CMU and the Davis Business School an excellent choice to pursue their higher education. As indicated before, our professors and staff give special importance to the learning experience our students receive. Our faculty develop their courses using “student-centered approaches,” incorporating experiential learning, service-learning, internship, traditional lecturing, and inquiry-based learning, among many others, into their pedagogy. Additionally, our clubs and student organizations are the perfect companion in the educational journey here in Grand Junction.
Our school of business is in the later stages of pursuing the AACSB initial accreditation. During this process, our school has engaged in a continuous improvement process adopting several best practices and standards followed by some of the most recognized business schools worldwide. We continuously prepare business leaders and professionals that demonstrate strong ethical principles, superior critical thinking, effective communication, and robust business acumen.
The quality of our programs is supported by the incredible job placement our alumni receive. Many past students work now for multinationals, local firms, and government agencies. A large number also decide to pursue their entrepreneurial ideas. Employer feedback indicates that we are doing the right things.
I invite you to carefully review our business programs and concentrations, including our fully online MBA program. Although we offer most courses face to face and online, the school offers a fully online Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in management. This concentration is often the preferred choice for students who are currently working and want to complete their higher education in a way that accommodates their existing schedule.
Now, when you are considering your future career and personal development, multiple questions may come to your mind. Please feel free to contact our Davis School of Business faculty or email our staff at [email protected] so that we can entertain those questions or route you properly in the right direction.
Sincerely,
Dr. Carlos Baldo
Associate Professor of Management
Interim Academic Head for the Davis School of Business
Departmental Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of their business degree, a business student will be able to:
SLO #1: Critical Thinking:
- 1.1 – Analyze business issues critically utilizing appropriate research methodologies
- 1.2 – Apply business knowledge and skills in appropriate business contexts
SLO #2: Effective Communication Skills
- 2.1 - Communicate clearly, appropriately, and persuasively to the audience in writing
- 2.2 - Communicate clearly, appropriately, and persuasively to the audience orally
SLO #3: Teamwork
- 3.1 – Differentiate various functions of teams within organizations
- 3.2 – Demonstrate behaviors consistent with effective teamwork
SLO #4: Ethical Awareness
- 4.1 – Analyze an issue within an ethical framework
- 4.2 – Recommend a solution based on an ethical framework
Take a look at the steps our faculity take to be qualified in their roles as instructors.
Contact Information:
Colorado Mesa University
Davis School of Business
1100 North Ave., DH 301
Grand Junction, CO 81501
970.248.1778