Faculty Spotlight: Anita Wood

My name is Anita Wood, and I still consider myself new to academia after being at Viterbo full-time for about four years – it is one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs I’ve ever had (second to being a mom). Prior to joining Viterbo, I had nearly two decades of experience working in the global corporate world, including: systems design and implementation at Ingersoll Rand in France; sales and marketing research in retail petroleum systems at Schlumberger in Switzerland; advertising sales management in California; information technology at Trane in La Crosse; software test engineering and product management at Business Objects, an SAP Company (formerly Firstlogic) in La Crosse; and project management / business analysis in the government sector. As you can tell by this list, I love learning, doing, and experiencing the world around me. That is what I love most about Viterbo University; it is an environment that encapsulates all those aspects of life in one place, both for faculty and students. I strive to bring my experiences into the classroom and hopefully get the students “into the field”. You might have noticed that in another article (Classroom Spotlight) in this newsletter. 

I was fortunate to have a “global” childhood, which sparked my passion for languages and global business. I am a first-generation American, with dual citizenship (American and Swiss). My native language is Swiss-German, and I also speak French and German. This upbringing exposed me to fabulous opportunities, such as spending childhood summers in Switzerland, working in Switzerland during college summers, and working in France and then Switzerland after I completed my undergraduate studies. I chose to earn my MBA in an international environment as well, at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, where 70% of the students are from outside the U.S. On our second trip to Switzerland, my now-husband proposed to me on a motorcycle trip over the alpine passes and insisted we get married in Switzerland. We now have two children, 6 and 4 ½ years old, and they have the travel bug, too (whether they like it or not). 

Technology is another passion of mine, and I am thrilled with its contributions to globalization and education (now if we could just solve the problem of the digital divide… my next project). If it were up to me, students in every major would complete a minor in Computer Information Systems because technology is foundational in any discipline and is a critical success factor in any organization they join.   

Viterbo is a unique and inspiring place, and I especially enjoy the entrepreneurial culture in the DSOB. We continuously strive to innovate and offer only the finest opportunities for our students. I look forward to being part of the Dahl School of Business as we expand and grow our programs. 

To read more about Anita and other DSOB faculty, please visit http://www.viterbo.edu/dahl.aspx?id=4382.