Carlson School of Management Names New International Programs Director What: Carlson School names new international programs director Minneapolis (April 5)-Michael Houston, associate dean of international programs at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, has named Randal Zimmermann as the director of the office of international programs, effective Monday, April 5. Zimmermann, 46, will oversee the school’s array of international programs, including the study abroad programs the school offers to its students as well as its offshore degree programs in Austria, Poland and China. "Our global opportunities have expanded dramatically in the past several years," said Houston. "Our goal is to increase the number of undergraduate and graduate students who pursue study abroad opportunities. In 2003, 30 percent of undergraduates students studied abroad, which makes the Carlson School a leader on campus. We want to grow that to more than 50 percent. Randy brings the scope and depth of experience that will help us realize and manage this growth." Zimmermann has worked with the University of Minnesota for 13 years including serving as associate director for the Center of Nations in Transition and research fellow at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. He was instrumental in developing the Carlson School’s relationship with the Warsaw School of Economics, which led to the Warsaw Executive MBA program. Most recently, he directed a U.S. State Department-NIS College and University Partnership project between the University of Minnesota and the Odessa State Economics University in Ukraine. "Looking at today’s competitive global economy, the need to develop international skills and cultural understanding has never been more important for faculty and students at the Carlson School," said Zimmermann. "Businesses have had to adapt to the demands of global networking to be successful; educational institutions face similar challenges and the Carlson School will work to prepare students to meet these global challenges." Zimmermann is completing a doctoral degree in Comparative and International Development Education at the University of Minnesota, and holds a master's degree in International Administration from the School for International Training in Vermont as well as a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota. Zimmermann replaces Mary Maus Kosir, who left the position in January to become the Carlson School’s assistant dean for undergraduate programs. # # # |