Alumni Fundraising Helps Attract Visionary Leader
The University has announced the appointment of Christopher Earley, Ph.D. as dean of the School of Business and the first Auran J. Fox Chair in Business. Earley is scheduled to assume both posts in January 2008.
The international dean search was led by Ross MacKinnon, Ph.D., dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and alumni Denis Nayden '76 '77 and Keith Fox '80.
The School of Business formed a Leadership Cabinet of dedicated alumni to work closely with the University throughout the recruitment process.Thecabinet's goal has been to raise $4.5 million to support an initiative fund suitable to attract a preeminent scholar and educator and a highly credentialed leader.To date, the school has received $3 million in commitments.
"We are among a strong base of alumni who are committed to helping grow and enhance the school," says Fox."Our efforts have been to help attract an internationally renowned leader and provide the seed money for him to start implementing his vision for the school immediately."
The fund will be used at the new dean's discretion to enhance education, research, programs, activities and scholarships. Earley's initial strategic plan calls for investment in the marketing, finance and accounting departments. Half of the school's undergraduate population is enrolled in the latter two departments, where additional resources will further advance educational opportunities and faculty research.
"We are extremely pleased to have a leader of Christopher Earley's stature on board as the new dean," says Nayden. "Chris brings a fresh,global perspective that will help change the scope of the school. He has outlined an aggressive plan to take the school to the next level in its core missions of education, research, scholarly output and public service."
Currently, Earley is the dean and Cycle & Carriage Professor at the National University of Singapore School of Business. He previously held chairs at London Business School and Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. Earley's credentials also include past professorships at top institutions around the world, including Sasin Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, Hong Kong Unive rsity of Science and Technology and the Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Irvine, among others.
Earley's scholarly writings include 10 books and more than 100 articles and book chapters. He also has consulted for global companies such as Deutsche Bank, IBM, General Motors, Unilever and British Aerospace (now BAE Systems).
Earley earned a B.A. from Knox College. He earned an M.A. and a Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
To support the School of Business, please contact Diana L. Timlin, CFRE, Director of Development, at 860.486.2656.
