Professor stressed the positive

After 29 years of teaching ethics and social responsibility, UNM Regents Professor Jeanne Logsdon is retiring.

Logsdon taught at the Anderson School of Management for 22 years and created several new business classes. She said she prefers to focus on business’ positive effects on society.

“I have most enjoyed learning about how business can make positive contributions to human and environmental welfare,” she said.

Logsdon received her Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1983, and began teaching at UNM in 1989. In 2008, she was awarded the Faculty Community Leadership Award and earned a place in the Anderson Annual Hall of Fame.

Shawn Berman, an Anderson professor, said the school benefitted internationally from Logsdon’s efforts.

“The internationally ranked business ethics program at Anderson is a testament to her hard work,” he said.

She has published 36 articles in journals, including Business Ethics Quarterly and The Encyclopedia of Business Ethics and Society.

“Much of my research has focused on how business has performed well,” she said.

Logsdon said she hoped to convey to her students the importance of ethical and responsible business practices.

“Yes, business can have negative impacts,” she said, “Such as engaging in poor employment practices or the BP oil spill, but we expect business to be responsible, and it should be held to a high standard.”

Maria Gondo, also a professor at Anderson, said Logsdon motivated students to learn.

“She was continually looking for ways to engage students and encourage them to be as curious and passionate about business as she was,” she said.

Logsdon said she plans to travel during her retirement, but will miss her classes and her students.

“The students are very good, and the subject matter is still very interesting to me after all these years,” she said. “In addition, I will miss advising individual students on career possibilities.”