I didn't expect to see me here either. I thought I was going fishing. But when I was approached to lead the college that has been a part of my life since 1980, I was all in. The fish can wait.
As a college, we have already achieved so much in recent months and during the past few years, and I plan to continue the great momentum the Lundquist College is enjoying. As such, I would like to thank Kees de Kluyver for truly laying the groundwork for this incredible time in the history of the college. This first message of the academic year would be incomplete without a few parting words from him.
“The last five years have been challenging and rewarding for me, and I thank all of you—alumni, donors, faculty, staff, students, and colleagues across the globe—for your ideas, support, cooperation, and friendship," de Kluyver said. “I am especially indebted to those I worked most closely with—the Lundquist College's associate deans, office staff, development officers, and programs. Also, I would like to single out our Board of Advisors, so ably chaired by Gwen Lillis, for special recognition. Finally, I want to thank my fellow deans and provost at the UO. They have been supportive and good friends at every turn."
If you have had the pleasure of being around Kees, you know he served as a tireless promoter of the college. You also know he is irreplaceable. The search has begun, however, for his successor.
Thanks to his work and many others, we have a solid presence in Portland—and it's growing stronger by the day. We celebrate an inaugural Sports Product Management class of 39 students and the largest combined class of first- and second-year Oregon Executive MBA students in the history of that program. We have created a great foundation for our future activities: a strengthened donor base, reorganized centers and programs, and the addition of several tenure-track faculty members who have demonstrated significant research productivity in a relatively short time. In fact, everyone who has gone up for tenure under Kees has achieved it. Additionally, we have fortified our ranks with stellar nontenure-track faculty—some of our most excellent teachers.
During the next year, thankfully Avamere Professor of Practice Michael Crooke and Professor Emeritus Larry Dann stand ready to aid the dean's office as we move forward with diligence and intention. Crooke brings great energy and experience to the role of interim associate dean for academic programs. As interim associate dean for faculty affairs, Dann brings nearly 40 years of experience and has previously served as department head and associate dean.
Among our many objectives in the coming year, we aim to successfully complete reaccreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business—the gold standard for business school accreditation worldwide; to continue to raise money to enhance our research and teaching; and, finally, to hire a great dean.
Those with dean candidate suggestions are encouraged to contact Bruce Blonigen, associate dean for social sciences at the UO College of Arts and Sciences, who is serving as chair of the search committee, which includes a long and deep cross section of stakeholders within the college and university.
Please know Crooke and I will be working with Kurt Zimmerman , senior director of development, throughout this process. Filling the position of dean with an outstanding, long-term individual is our high priority. Our goal is to have the new dean hired by spring term and to start July 1.
We have an ambitious year ahead, but with your help, we will be successful. Once again, it is an honor to serve as interim dean in the college I love. This appointment is an exciting opportunity and a wonderful way to end my academic career.
Interim Dean | Professor Emeritus of Management