Il Magnifico

Susan Weihrich, Former Chair, Department of Accounting

Joe’s focus as Dean has always been how can Albers and the university provide the students an education and business scholarship that most benefits their role as world citizens. His focus was never what benefits ‘the Dean’.

BTW, did he ever mention that he met Mother Teresa twice!

Brenda Christensen, Author, Investor, Member of Seattle University Board of Trustees

“Dean Joe” is the reason I am fully engaged with Seattle University. When I obtained my MBA from Albers, at the time, we had minimal engagement with fellow students and faculty. We were working students and after class most everyone scampered home to their families and to get ready for work the next day.

Over a decade and a half after graduation, Joe and his Development executive partner, Gayle Yates, paid me a visit at my home in Silicon Valley.

They invited me to participate in the expanding entrepreneurial program and business case studies that were emerging at Albers. It was my first contact with Seattle University in all the years post-graduation. Joe introduced me to the staff and faculty developing those programs and I came up to Seattle to enjoy the engagement.

I was a major lead in the development of a new industry, storage networking, and marketing VP of the IPO darling, Brocade Communications. I also had plenty of experience in both successful companies and companies that did not succeed so it was a pleasure to listen to the students as they put forth their business plans and entrepreneurial ideas and not have to be the one promoting an idea needing funding.

My volunteer engagement with Albers eventually led to my becoming a university Trustee. I now say, I am experiencing the outcome of a Jesuit education and community that was not available when I was a student.

Joe opened the door for me to be part of the Albers and University community that has greatly enriched my life.

Van Vong, Managing Director, Corporate Segment, Marsh McLennan

When I was an undergrad, I RSVPed for an event and ended up not showing up. I forget the reason. I got a personal email from Joe the next day about attending events once I RSVPed for them, especially on campus, as these events are intentionally put together for the benefit of the students.

Now that I’m on the board*, I do see the intentionality of each event we put together as well as Joe’s efforts to make sure that he provides connections for each attendee.

I recall how Joe would start his suggestions. I’m onto him now but then I didn’t know they were suggestions. He would say it in such a calm manner too, “you know you should …” Whether it was to mentor, join the Albers board or consider the EMBA program. He always had an eye for connecting folks and seeing the best in them and their contributions.

*editor's note: Vong is currently Chair of the Dean's Advisory Board

Madhu Rao, Professor and Academic Dean, Anderson College of Business and Computing at Regis University

The first time Joe made me laugh (inadvertently) was at an EXCO meeting. All the Chairs were talking about the celebrities they most resembled. For Carl Obermiller, it was John Stockton (a former Zag and NBA player). For me, it was Chips.

Joe had been quiet for a while and then said, “People usually confuse me for Keanu Reeves or Dwayne ‘The Rock Johnson’. We all burst out laughing, and Joe looked miffed. I was thinking of getting T-shirts made with Joe’s face and ‘Call me Keanu’ below it.

I started the Albers Hiking Club while I was a faculty member, and Joe came for every one of them. It was meant to be a bonding experience for all the faculty, staff, and their children. He’d get restless waiting for everyone to get organized and would suddenly start up the trail. We’d see him 45 minutes later waiting for us.

Joe always prioritized family. If any of his kids called during a meeting, Joe would always pick up to make sure it wasn’t an emergency.

Anyone else would have fired me for all the jokes I made at his expense, especially during March Madness. And he could give as good as he got. I miss our back-and-forth digs.

Joe loved telling the story of how, on a trip to India, he was seated next to the wife of the Indian national team’s captain, MS Dhoni. He claimed she couldn’t stop talking to him during the flight. That was it. That was the end of the story. But he looked so pleased about it.