Master of International Management Degree Spotlight - MIM Student Has Keen Ear for Languages

Master of International Management

Department Spotlight

Whitworth MIM Student Has Keen Ear for Languages and Sharp Mind for Business

Sara Tanzi-Dunham's background is as diverse and colorful as the familiar collage of stickers on an international traveler's well-used suitcase.

A graduate student in the Whitworth Master of International Management Program, Tanzi-Dunham is a native of Citta' di Castello, Italy, is fluent in Italian, English and Spanish, and is working to master Chinese. She holds a B.A. degree in international business from Messiah College, in Grantham, Penn., and conducted studies in 10 European countries and Russia through the International Business Institute. Tanzi-Dunham has also worked in economic development with the Pennsylvania Angel Network.

"I am attracted to international business because differences in cultures and languages fascinate me," Tanzi-Dunham says. "I enjoy meeting people from a variety of backgrounds and I like change."

Now a Spokane resident, Tanzi Dunham served as a graduate-teaching assistant for Whitworth's new Introduction to Business and Management course in fall 2005; more recently, she has racked up some impressive accomplishments both locally and internationally.

In April 2006, Tanzi-Dunham took second place in the 2005-06 Inland Northwest Regional Business Plan Competition for the "La Plaza" plan, a faith-based, earned-income venture.

The original plan was conceived by Rose Ayars, program manager for the Spokane Neighborhood Action Program's micro-enterprise-development program, which helps low-income clients start and expand businesses. Entrepreneurs in the program often partner with Whitworth School of Global Commerce & Management students, who assist with special projects and with writing business plans. Tanzi-Dunham refined and strengthened Ayars' plan, which is a for-profit subsidiary of First Presbyterian Church of Spokane.

The "La Plaza" plan features a coffee house and a socially-responsible retail store. Managers of such a store consider carefully the products or services offered to consumers as well as a number of retailing issues, such as responsible manufacturing practices that avoid using child labor or damaging the environment, to selling organically-grown produce and "fair-trade" coffee.

"La Plaza" also cooperates with groups from international communities and local emerging entrepreneurs, artists and social enterprises, granting them free space to sell their products, and offering financial seminars and workshops.

"It breaks away from traditional charitable giving," Tanzi-Dunham says. "Most places that work with economic development either work with local organizations or internationally. 'La Plaza' is what some define as 'glocalized,' because it features products from both the local and global community. Additionally, the idea of a faith-based earned-income venture is still very innovative."

Tanzi-Dunham will use her half of the $3,500 business-plan competition prize money to finance a summer trip to Switzerland, where she will take part in the 44th Graduate Study Programme at the United Nations. Tanzi-Dunham was selected to the highly competitive academic-internship program in May, along with MIM graduate student Lisa Trefts.

Tanzi-Dunham and Trefts are two of 100 graduate students from more than 40 countries who will gather July 3-21 at the Palais des Nations to evaluate and make recommendations on global issues including human rights, the environment and economic development. During the program, participants will engage in issues of global importance and produce a working paper that can influence U.N. policies and programs.

"I am thrilled to have been selected for this program," Tanzi-Dunham says. "I believe it will be a very important experience and I plan to take full advantage of the opportunity that has been offered to me. I feel privileged and blessed to take part in the program, and I intend to eat a lot of chocolate while I'm there!"

After Tanzi-Dunham graduates from the MIM program in December, she plans to pursue employment in an international and diverse environment, possibly in economic development. This self-described "global citizen" will feel right at home in any world-wide destination.