Johnson Launches Clinical Professorships 1/16/2012 3:41:00 PM
Suwinski, award-winning teacher and corporate veteran, is the first to hold new title
Johnson at Cornell University named Jan H. Suwinski clinical professor of management, based on his outstanding contributions as a non-tenure-track faculty member. Suwinski is the first holder of the new title, created in fall 2011 to help Johnson recruit and retain the best possible faculty in an increasingly competitive environment.
“We recognize that faculty members from different backgrounds, including those with substantial business, as well as various academic experience, are critical contributors to MBA education,” said Doug Stayman, Associate Dean for MBA Programs. “Yet these experienced teachers, managers, consultants, and entrepreneurs can be among the most difficult to recruit and hire, due to the very success that makes them excellent instructors and mentors.”
While specific responsibilities for clinical professors will vary, all will fulfill two primary responsibilities: they will have substantive teaching responsibilities in degree programs, and they will contribute to the school’s mission, above and beyond their work as instructors. These activities may include student engagement, such as career advising, project guidance, and other applied learning activities; or program development, such as institute development and leadership and research activities.
To be appointed to the title of Clinical Professor, a faculty member must meet five criteria: excellence in teaching; a terminal degree in a relevant field or substantive senior business experience; service to the Johnson community; external visibility and impact in the field of the appointment, either academically or professionally; and a 50 percent or greater appointment in the school.
Jan Suwinski joined Johnson as lecturer of management in 1997, after a 32-year career at Corning, Inc., where he held a variety of management positions in several technology-based businesses. From 1990-1996, he was Executive Vice President of the Opto-Electronics Group, with responsibility for all of Corning's fiber optic based businesses. The Group had 13 plants in eight countries, and his Telecommunications Products Division won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1995. During his career, Suwinski was responsible for 10 Corning joint ventures. From 1992-1996, he was Chairman of Siecor Corporation, a $1B joint venture with Siemens. Prior roles at Corning included Senior Vice President-Telecommunications Products Division, Vice President and Area Manager for Asia, and Vice President of Corning Latin America/Asia Pacific. . He currently serves on the Boards of Tellabs, Inc., Thor Industries, Inc., ACI Worldwide, IVANS, Inc. and The Sentry Group.
During his 15 years at Johnson, Suwinski has taught the Semester in Strategic Operations Immersion Program, as well as courses in strategy and strategic alliances. In 2006, he received the Stephen Russell Distinguished Teaching Award, voted upon each year by the fifth-year reunion class to honor a faculty member who continues to influence their careers, post-graduation. He earned his MBA from Johnson in 1965.
