Member of Ugandan Parliament Speaks to Business Students

Students in two classes within Rockhurst University’s Helzberg School of Management were surprised recently when, instead of their usual class discussions, a special presenter led the class.

The presenter was Ugandan Parliament member – the Honorable Ronald Reagan Okumu. Okumu stopped in to speak to the International Economics and International Management classes on Thursday, Feb. 14, sharing his experiences as a member of parliament, and discussing the cultural and economic differences between the United States and Uganda.

“His presentation was a great fit for my class,” said Martin Stack, Ph.D., professor of management. “Okumu provided a very important perspective from an African country – something these students have never been exposed to.”

Okumu also discussed the history of Uganda as well as sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on political and economic history as well as sharing information about the business environment in contemporary Uganda.

“Having the Honorable Ronald Reagan Okumu visit our students was a powerful learning experience,” said Cheryl McConnell, interim dean of the Helzberg School of Management. “This was an opportunity for them to hear firsthand about living and doing business in Uganda, and our students asked excellent questions of the honored guest.”

“It was fascinating to learn about the history of Uganda and that the country has been on-track for the past 12 years or so,” said Elizabeth Daldalian, ’13, a student in Stack’s class. “Okumu shared that the country is continuing to move forward, and that it has a budding economy and many opportunities for young business students. It tied in well to Dr. Stack’s class since we focus on conducting business in other countries and the importance of being aware of the many different cultures and values.”

Okumu came to Rockhurst University as part of his recent visit to the United States.