Tag: cookout

It’s been a tradition since 1995 and it’s difficult to imagine a better way to kick off the new academic year than our all-school picnic. The Annual Welcome Back Cookout was initiated by Dean Stuart Greenbaum, continued under Dean Mahendra Gupta, and hosted this year for the first time by Dean Mark Taylor Sept. 6. Over one thousand members of the Olin community enjoyed the perennial party under blue skies in the Knight Center’s Reid Courtyard.

Link to post on the history of the Cookout.

According to tradition, the Dean, staff and faculty don aprons and toques to serve the grilled fare to the hungry masses. Chief of Staff Jessica Martin reminded everyone in a tweet that Dean Taylor’s first job as a young man in England was as a hot dog seller! His skills came in handy on the serving line. Thanks to the Aramark staff for grilling and preparing everything on the menu.

Inside the Atrium, student clubs and campus groups representing a wide variety of interests and activities to promote diversity and inclusion shared information at the third Annual Diversity and Inclusion Expo.

Enjoy the photos taken by Jerry Naunheim, Jr. at the events.

Caption, top of page: Dean Stuart Greenbaum and former Provost Ed Macias at the first Cookout in 1995.

When you see smoke rising from the courtyard between the Knight Center and Knight Hall on Thursday, Sept. 8, don’t worry. Follow your nose to the Olin Welcome Back Cookout and enjoy! It’s been a tradition for more than 20 years, thanks to former dean Stuart Greenbaum.

Not long after he became dean in 1995, Greenbaum decided to host a BBQ for the entire Olin community during the first week of classes. It was a great opportunity for the new dean to meet and greet students and for everyone to celebrate the beginning of the academic year. The event was such a success that it has been an annual event, rain or shine, for more than 20 years.

Part of the tradition includes the Dean, faculty, and staff taking shifts on the chow line to serve burgers and hot dogs from the grill. Veggie burgers, salads, and cake are also on the menu every year.

Interim Dean Kurt Dirks hosts the Cookout this year from 4 -6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8. For the second year, the Diversity & Inclusion Committee will present an informational fair in the Atrium during the Cookout.

Click thumbnails below to expand image. 

Photo credits: James Byard, Jerry Naunheim Jr., Sid Hastings, WUSTL Photos

The Welcome Back Cookout is an annual tradition at Olin. Held on Aug. 31, it was the 21st year for the feast that welcomes all business school students, faculty, and staff back to campus. Dean Gupta and staff members don aprons and serve up hamburgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers with all the fixins.

Thanks to our video student workers: Ricardo Solis was the videographer at the Cookout and he edited with Ross Arkin.  Enjoy!