On Nov. 12, the College of Business welcomed retired FBI agent Jeff Lanza as a part of the David D. Glass lecture series. Lanza made several presentations throughout the day to College of Business undergraduates, Master of Business Administration students and a large group presentation open to all MSU students in the Plaster Student Union. In all, Lanza addressed over 400 students.
With a focus on how to be an ethical leader, Lanza’s presentations included examples of actual FBI cases from his 20-year career in the White Collar Crime Unit of the Kansas City FBI office. He shared with students how small unethical behaviors can eventually lead to larger criminal activities. Lanza included humorous examples of how criminals often justified their crimes. Lanza taught students the importance of humility and integrity in building a successful and ethical career. After his presentations, students lined up to learn more about careers with the FBI. Elizabeth Sivill, an MSU accounting student, said, “You would expect a retired FBI agent to be secretive and reserved. Mr. Lanza was the very opposite. He really captivated the audience by giving very descriptive examples of how easily one can become unethical.”
The David D. Glass Lecture Series Endowment was established by David Glass in 1998 to help students understand their roles in the global economy and promote the values of leadership and ideas. Glass graduated from MSU in 1960 with a degree in accounting. The MSU Criminology Department co-sponsored Lanza’s visit to campus.