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.
Message from the Department Head
I encourage you to explore the various programs and areas of study that we offer: Academic Programs of Study. As you can see, we have a broad range of options to help you be successful, not only professionally, but personally as well.
Something we are very proud of is our acceptance as a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation. Our application for accreditation has been accepted, and we are currently working toward full AACSB accreditation. I encourage you to research what AACSB accreditation means to you, to the Davis School of Business, and to Colorado Mesa University at the AACSB website. We will keep you posted as we continue to pursue and maintain the highest Business School accreditation in the world, with only around 25% of Business Schools in the U.S. and 8% internationally obtaining, and maintaining, this accreditation and standard of excellence. Though this accreditation is the gold standard of Business School accreditation, the goal is not about obtaining accreditation, but is really about program and process improvement so that we can continue to innovate, measure, and improve student success and outcomes.
Please email me directly at cnoel@coloradomesa.edu if you ever have any questions or if you seek additional information. I am committed to student success and am happy to help you in any way that I can. Thank you again for your interest in the Davis School of Business and in Colorado Mesa University. You can also follow, connect, or link with us via Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
I look very forward to hearing from and helping you.
Sincerely,
Christine Z. J. Noel, PhD, CPA
Davis School of Business at Colorado Mesa University
Excellence in Business Begins with Quality Education
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
Contact Information:
Colorado Mesa University
Davis School of Business
1100 North Ave., DH 301
Grand Junction, CO 81501
970.248.1778
business@coloradomesa.edu