On October 1, 2012, I will be
assuming a new position as Dean of the College of Business at Florida
International University—a large state research university in Miami. On that same day, Dr. Eric Jack will assume
the responsibilities as Interim Dean of the UAB School of Business. Often a decision to make a career change is
driven by significant professional opportunities or by important
family/personal options. My decision to
join FIU was a factor of both incentives.
FIU is a highly respected, rapidly growing place of world-class and
global-based education and research. On
the personal side, my granddaughter and her parents live in Florida, and I look
forward to being closer to them. However,
I have sadness in leaving UAB, as this is an exceptional place of research,
teaching and community service. The UAB
School of Business is fully engaged in the many special missions of UAB, especially
in the missions of cross-discipline academic programs/research and the
commercialization of the life-changing intellectual property generated by the
great minds of UAB.
My joy is the knowledge that
the continuing leadership of UAB and its School of Business will continue to
lift the School to even greater productivity in student learning/career options
and entrepreneurial activities impacting the economic growth of the
region. I am especially proud of the
talent, focus, and kindness of Dr. Eric Jack and Dr. Karen Kennedy, the associate
deans of the School for the last 4 ½ years. They have been true partners in leadership. They have been critical participants in our
growth and transition to campus-wide and community engagement. Their efforts in student growth have been
essential in generating the funding to support the hiring of 28 new world-class,
teacher-scholars and to expand our support for cross-discipline research and
programs. I also have joy in the quality
of the three department chairs – Drs. Molly Wasko, Bob Robicheaux, and Lary
Cowart – as each can take pride in the growth of quality programs in their
departments, driven by ongoing support of faculty and staff and the hiring of
new teacher-scholars. And most
critically, the more than 65 faculty and staff members are mission-focused
professionals who individually and collectively are servant leaders of student
learning, and contributors to the life-changing discovery/research that defines
UAB.
Thanks to the continuous, outpouring
support from alumni and community leaders, and the many exceptional accomplishments
of our faculty, students and alumni, I depart from UAB knowing that the School
of Business is thriving and excelling to new heights of recognition for
high-quality business education!
