Caryn Beck-Dudley named 2018 Woman of Influence
SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 15, 2018 - Caryn Beck-Dudley, dean of the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, is one of 100 local women to be honored this year by the Silicon Valley Business Journal as “women of influence.” She is joined by women from a variety of industries including education, nonprofit, startup, manufacturing, aviation, law, and finance.
“I am truly honored to be in the company of so many amazing women, and to be recognized as one of the most influential women in Silicon Valley,” said Beck-Dudley. “As an educator who had strong women mentors myself, I know how important it is to showcase women who find ways to make their mark in sometimes difficult industries for women. This is also a driving force behind our Initiative for Women's Economic Empowerment at the Leavey School of Business.”
As the first female dean of the Leavey School of Business, Beck-Dudley has engaged the faculty, staff and alumni in implementing aggressive strategic initiatives, including adding two master’s programs, in business analytics and supply chain; totally revamping the MBA to focus more deeply on the School’s Silicon Valley location and influence; launching an Online MBA program; and co-creating the Initiative for Women’s Economic Empowerment (IWEE) with the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship.
Beck-Dudley also headed the creation of a Real Estate Initiative at Santa Clara University. She built a board of advisors made up of 25-30 local, state, and national industry professionals; developed the Real Estate Minor program with 13 students currently enrolled; and is establishing a Real Estate Studies Institute on campus.
Caryn Beck-Dudley and Lisa Bougie ‘91, Chief Merchandising Officer at Stitch Fix, with students at a Retail Management Institute event.
“Caryn works to bring SCU students into the Silicon Valley workforce, to elevate women in the workplace especially to real estate leadership positions, and to bring Silicon Valley leaders into Santa Clara University,” said Jim Whelan ‘73, a founding member of the real estate advisory board, and the person who nominated Beck-Dudley for this honor. “She delivers on teaching students in the business school how to do business the right way – with a focus on ethics and self-reflection.”
Beck-Dudley also pioneered a Conscientious Capitalism program in the spirit of the University’s focus on developing graduates of competence, conscience and compassion. Through a combination of faculty and industry-professional instruction, students are given the tools and frameworks for applying virtue and purpose to their personal development and their growth as business leaders.
Beck-Dudley graduated magna cum laude from Utah State University in political science and received her J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law.
This year marks a decade of the Business Journal honoring a class of influential business women in Silicon Valley. Since 2008, 1,075 women have been named Women of Influence with Santa Clara University often represented. This year, eight Santa Clara alumnae join Dean Beck-Dudley on the list:
- Elena Marimo Berk B.S. ‘85, co-founder, Creekside School, San Jose
- Aanan Contractor M.S. ‘04, vice president of engineering, global digital acquisition, American Express Palo Alto
- Cynthia Dote J.D. ‘85, director of engineering, Pure Storage, Mountain View
- Mary Hoshiko Haughey B.A. ‘82, senior vice president of operations, YMCA of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara
- Sandy Jamison MBA ‘04, owner/broker, Tuscana Properties, San Jose
- Guisselle Nunez B.A. ‘97, director of public relations, marketing and government relations, Chabot-Las Positas Community College District, Dublin, who is also a former SCU trustee.
- Christine Peek J.D. ‘04, partner, McManis Faulkner, San Jose
- Susan Lucas Taylor '78, Chief development officer, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, San Jose
All 100 honorees will be profiled in the June 1 issue of the Silicon Valley Business Journal and honored at an evening awards program to be held May 31 at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose.
Learn more about Caryn Beck-Dudley www.scu.edu/business/about/leadership/dean/.
About Leavey School of Business
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, one of the most dynamic business environments in the world, the Leavey School of Business combines academic excellence in the 450-year Jesuit tradition, with an energetic, innovative spirit that typifies the region. For more information, see www.scu.edu/business/.
About Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located 40 miles south of San Francisco in California’s Silicon Valley, offers its more than 9,000 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business, and engineering; master’s degrees in business, education, counseling psychology, pastoral ministry, and theology; and law degrees and engineering doctoral degrees. Distinguished nationally by one of the highest graduation rates among all U.S. master’s universities, California’s oldest operating higher-education institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social justice. For more information, see www.scu.edu.
Media Contact
Deborah Lohse | SCU Media Communications | dlohse@scu.edu | 408-554-5121