Margaret (Peg) Williams SMA President

I know that Top 10 lists are cliché, but they still catch my attention. They are the only links that ever tempt me when I view a homepage -- the next thing I know, I am viewing the “10 Best Beaches in the World” or the “10 Coffee Drinks with the Most Calories.” Because I moved recently from Virginia Commonwealth University to Wayne State University, I have found myself in the position of “selling” the Southern Management Association to faculty and doctoral students who have never attended an SMA conference and might be wondering if attending our conference is “worth it.” As I thought about this task, I jotted down some of the reasons I believe attending an SMA conference is a good investment of time and money. What follows is my personal list (in no particular order) of the best reasons to attend an SMA conference. (Let me know what I’ve left out!)

In addition to traditional paper sessions and symposia, the SMA conference offers:

1. the Professional Development Institute in which research and teaching experts present workshops on topics such as meta-analysis, environmental sustainability, service learning, and measurement development (most of which are offered at no charge beyond conference registration)
2. a Research Incubator (in alternate years) that provides the opportunity for faculty researchers with common interests to work with expert facilitators to develop research proposals funded by SMA
3. a Paper Development Workshop in which authors of selected conference papers meet one-on-one with a research mentor who provides comments and suggestions for how the paper might be strengthened for journal submission
4. abundant opportunities to gain experience and provide service as a paper reviewer, session chair, and paper discussant
5. a well-attended business meeting at which you can learn about SMA and how it functions as well as congratulate the winners of the Most Innovative Session Award and the Best Paper Awards (as they receive their checks – new in 2010!)
6. a doctoral consortium attended by over 50 students each year at which leading faculty present on topics related to thriving in graduate school, conducting research, becoming a teacher (and for which doctoral students who attend receive a $500 stipend)
7. a biennial faculty consortium at which faculty in various stages of their careers can learn from faculty panelists and share tips for career success.
8. great food at the conference breaks and socials that provides opportunities for networking (and helps attendees keep their personal expenses down)
9. an on-site placement service that saw increased traffic in 2009
10. chances to interact with colleagues and friends from universities around the country and the world including the Editor, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board members of Journal of Management – SMA’s journal.

There are many other reasons I always look forward to the SMA conference (for example, I didn’t mention the wonderful conference locations or the free drink tickets); and, judging from recent attendance figures, I am not alone. Even in these difficult economic times, attending the SMA conference is a wise investment, so I encourage you to submit your work to the SMA conference, volunteer to review and serve on the program as a session chair or discussant, and plan to attend the conference October 27-30 in St. Pete Beach. The pages of this newsletter provide information about many ways in which you can become involved. Please do so, and I’ll see you in Florida!

Margaret (Peg) Williams
SMA President