The John Chambers College of Business and Economics isn’t waiting to respond to the changed world that awaits on the other side of the pandemic.

Milan Puskar Dean Javier Reyes is ensuring that the Chambers College is on the front lines shaping that future by aligning resources in the most strategic way to provide focus to four core areas: graduate programs, undergraduate programs, outreach and research.

To operationalize this vision, Naomi Boyd and Josh Hall will broaden their leadership roles and join Graham Peace and Virginia Kleist as part of an expanded associate dean team.

Boyd, who will continue to lead the Finance department as chair, will step into the role of Associate Dean for Innovation, Outreach and Engagement, providing leadership to the Center for Career Development, LaunchLab, Encova Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Sales Center, Data Driven WV, HIT Lab, Center for Free Enterprise and Center for Financial Literacy and Education. She will work with the directors of each center to develop strategic plans, create impactful corporate partnerships and link the academic mission of the centers to unit initiatives, in addition to building upon student placements and value propositions for the College’s donor base.

Hall, who will continue to lead the Economics department as chair, will step into the role of Associate Dean for Research. He will expand the research efforts of the Chambers College in support of West Virginia University’s R1 mission, focusing on growing resources and funding opportunities, recruiting and working with PhD students and showcasing the research successes of faculty.

Kleist will continue to provide focus to the growth of the College’s graduate programs portfolio in enrollment and program creation. Additionally, she will take on the new charge of reimagining and expanding international and study abroad efforts that have been changed as a result of COVID-19 as Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Global Engagement. She will lead the Robbins Center for Global Business and Strategy and the Center for Chinese Business.

Peace will continue to lead undergraduate education as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Academic Affairs, including the areas of enrollment, retention, policies and courses to support continued growth through the combined efforts of Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs Rebel Smith. He will also continue to provide leadership to the Management Information Systems department as chair.

“These changes help us continue to think differently and evaluate opportunities from more angles to ensure that we do not let muscle memory revert us to where we were before the pandemic,” said Reyes. “Dr. Boyd and Dr. Hall have been invaluable members of the Chambers College executive committee and will continue to provide leadership to that team while also guiding us into the future in our research and outreach efforts. This reorganization provides clear champions for undergraduate education, graduate education, research efforts, outreach efforts, and overall academic dimensions.”

The administrative units of Strategic Communications and Events, Strategic Initiatives, Development, and Finance and Administration will continue to report to Reyes, in addition to the academic chairs, Vantage Ventures and the academic incubator.

The operational changes are effective immediately.

-WVU-

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