College of Business alumnus Colin O’Connor credits his passion and supportive colleagues for helping him rise steadily through the ranks to the post of chief operating officer at ReliaQuest, the Tampa-based global cybersecurity firm.

Anticipation is a wonderful thing, especially this time of year. We welcomed a record number of freshmen during the Summer C session and anticipate a record number of freshmen this fall. Each one of them is full of anticipation about his or her next four years on campus and what it means to be a part of the Seminole family. I personally cannot wait for the sounds of the Marching Chiefs practices resonating across campus and the anticipation of another football season in Tallahassee. And, we all anticipate the cooler weather that arrives in the fall.

During her nearly three decades as a management and marketing professor in Florida State University’s College of Business, Persis Emmett Rockwood left an indelible mark on scores of students. Two of them – Meg Gilbert Crofton and Lamar Rowe – say they can trace their career and personal success to her influence.

Early on, Florida State University alumnus Jim Henderson decided that adding value to any endeavor and treating people as you would like to be treated allows you to create a better organization and benefit both professionally and personally. 

Diahann Lassus can name countless ways for alumni to engage with the College of Business and its students. The 1976 management graduate has done most of them – from mentoring undergraduates, speaking at events and assisting graduates looking for jobs, to serving on the college’s Board of Governors and contributing financial support – like her recent $250,000 gift to create the Diahann W. Lassus Classroom in Legacy Hall.

A generous $5 million gift commitment from CNL Charitable Foundation founded by alumnus James M. Seneff will establish an honors program at the Florida State University College of Business and advance the college farther down the path of preeminence.

A common hiring philosophy used for generations is being flipped on its head by new research from Florida State University. Screening job applicants based on their prior work experience is often a mistake among employers, according to Chad Van Iddekinge, the College of Business Bank of America Professor of Management and an expert on human resources management.

Olivia Larson caught the thrifting bug as a child when her mother brought her along on shopping trips to second-hand shops. Now a savvy thrifter herself, the College of Business junior has brought her passion to campus by starting the Thrift Club at FSU.

Alumni Kevin and Brenda Vaughn wanted to do something special to honor their family’s history at Florida State University with an eye toward the future. The couple came up with a unique and meaningful gift that names the Vaughn Alumni Engagement Coordinator Office in Legacy Hall.

When Scott Price studied accounting at Florida State University, he found himself drawn to the plaques bearing the names of individuals and corporations outside classrooms and offices in the Rovetta Business Building. He learned that successful alumni and friends of the College of Business had contributed financial support to name the rooms. He liked this tangible way of leaving a legacy.