Abstract
Abstract
On behalf of everyone at Ball State University, it's my pleasure to write this tribute to Professor Erdogan Kumcu for the Istanbul University Journal of the School of Business Administration. Professor Kumcu spent the last 21 years of his life as a Ball State faculty member, and his influence is still felt on our campus, more than six years after his death.
Professor Kumcu was a valued professor in our Miller College of Business, and his specialty—the role of marketing in socioeconomic development—led many of our students to seriously consider marketing in a global context for the first time. His commitment to international relations was reflected in many ways that led to the Ball State University of today, one that is welcoming increasing numbers of international students and faculty and offering more opportunities for our students to study abroad.
Professor Kumcu's international worldview is reflected in the instrumental role he played in developing our European Studies program. This interdisciplinary minor considers issues faced by Europe from political, social, economic, cultural, and geographic perspectives. Professor Kumcu also was the first director of Ball State's Global Media Network, which we created in 2003 as a consortium of universities, embassies, and other partners around the world. That network provides nontraditional learning experiences using digital information technology, Internet communication, and video conferencing. Ball State currently has 41 Global Media Network partners on six continents, including Istanbul University, where Professor Kumcu earned both his bachelor's and doctoral degrees.
Professor Kumcu was often recognized for his scholarship, both on this university's campus and nationally. He earned the Ball State Outstanding Faculty Service Award and was the recipient of the prestigious Leavey Award from the Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, which honors excellence in private enterprise education.
In recognition of Professor Kumcu's numerous contributions to the Ball State campus, his wife, Emine, established a memorial fund in his name to support international development. That fund provides financial support to an academic exchange and professional development program between Istanbul University and Ball State University. It brings junior business faculty members of Istanbul University to Ball State and provides for Istanbul University students to study for master's degrees at our Miller College of Business. One of the highlights of my trip to central Turkey earlier this year was when Emine and I met the president of Istanbul University and the many faculty there who had benefitted from the fund.
 
Professor Kumcu was a dedicated scholar and an extraordinary role model to his faculty colleagues and his students. He had a strong and clear vision for providing international experiences to those faculty and students, and we at Ball State University are forever grateful for his commitment.
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Details
| Primary Language | Turkish |
|---|---|
| Journal Section | Editorial |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | December 2, 2009 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2010 Volume: 39 Issue: 2 |
