Transitions

New Head of Academic Affairs

Dr. Merideth Thompson has been appointed Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Dr. Thompson is an associate professor of management and has taught at the Huntsman School since 2012. She recently served as a Faculty Fellow for the Office of Research and Graduate Studies at Utah State University.

“Merideth exemplifies the spirit of the Huntsman School in her excellent research and exceptional teaching ability,” said Douglas D. Anderson, Dean of the Huntsman School. “I’m thrilled that she has accepted a new role that will allow her to continue to help us develop the next generation of ethical and effective business leaders.”

Thompson will work closely with the dean’s leadership team and department heads to recruit, mentor, and support faculty, and ensure that the curriculum remains relevant and challenging. She will also collaborate with students and organizations to enhance the learning environment of the school. “I’m very excited about this new challenge,” said Thompson. “I look forward to strengthening the school’s culture of excellence, supporting faculty, and furthering the mission of the Huntsman School of Business.”

With Appreciation

Dr. Steve Hanks is stepping down after leading the Master of Human Resources (MHR) program with distinction, integrity, and unwavering commitment. Under his leadership, enrollments grew from 23 to 125 students, curriculum was significantly upgraded to align around strategy and analytics, the Executive Program and dual MHR-MBA and MHR-MMIS degrees were established, and placement improved significantly. More than 250 students have launched HR careers, average salaries have doubled, and over 80% of students are now placed in the Corporate HR Leadership Development Programs of Fortune 500 corporate.

New Academic Department

The Department of Management was divided into two departments, to enable future growth and initiatives to be managed more meaningfully than can be accomplished by a department that has already exceeded an efficient operating size.
The Department of Marketing and Strategy will concentrate on macro-and market-focused disciplines including entrepreneurship and leadership as well as marketing and strategy. Current Management Department Head and Buehler Endowed Professor of Management, Dr. James H. Davis, will lead the newly created department.
“The Department of Marketing and Strategy has a phenomenal faculty who will provide cutting-edge instruction and research on Marketing, Strategy, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship. I am confident that students graduating from our programs of study will not only land great jobs, they will be among the leaders in their fields,” commented Dr. Davis, “I believe that the Department of Marketing and Strategy will be among the top programs of study and student placement in the nation in Marketing, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship.”