dean | The Pulse

Charleston School of Business Faculty & Staff Updates

Elevate & Adjust

This past week was one of those weeks that reminded me why I love the work we get to do in business education. I spent a few days at the AACSB Elevate: Americas Conference, where I had the chance to lead a session on Risk Management with Barb Ritter from Toledo and to connect with…

People & Purpose: A Spotlight on Engagement

Every great semester is built by people who invest in students, colleagues, and our community. This week, I want to highlight some engagements that quietly power our mission and invite you to jump in. Advisory Councils: Keeping Us Connected and Future-Focused Our Board of Governors, National Advisory Council, Young Alumni Council, and our program advisory councils continue to strengthen the…

A New Chapter, Built on Opportunity

Following last week’s Breaking News about the Bennett School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, I’ve appreciated the thoughtful conversations happening across departments. Any time we enter a new phase—whether it’s launching a new School, preparing for our new building, integrating AI more deeply into our work, or responding to the broader evolution of higher education—we feel the…

A New Era for Hospitality and Tourism Management

I am happy to share more transformative news for the College of Charleston and our School of Business. Prior to the new year, we shared that our hospitality and tourism management program was poised to become the College’s first named school. I am excited to announce that, with the support of Michael and Amy Bennett,…

Make The Semester Count

With classes now underway, welcome back! I hope you found rest and renewal over the break. Thank you for the thoughtful preparation that made yesterday’s first day a strong start—syllabi refined, assignments calibrated, and courses ready to engage students from day one. Your work is the foundation of our students’ success. Higher education continues to…

Great Days Ahead!

Happy New Year, School of Business! As we welcome January 1, I would like to acknowledge the realities that many of us face across higher education—shifting demographics, evolving learner expectations, and the rapid pace of technological change. Those pressures are real. Yet here, at the College of Charleston School of Business, our momentum and our…

A Season of Light, Rest, and Kindness

Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, observing Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, marking the New Year, or simply savoring a quiet break, I hope this season brings you moments of light, rest, and connection. As we close the year, I’m reminded—again—how much good happens here because of you. Our progress is never the result of one person or one…

The Quiet Power of the In-Between

We’re standing in that brief, meaningful space between celebration and stillness—after winter commencement and before the holidays. On Saturday, the College marked another milestone for our graduates, complete with all the CofC traditions that make the day unforgettable. If you missed it or want to replay a favorite moment, you can find the livestream links…

Graduation Takes All of Us

December graduation is upon us this Saturday, and with it comes one of the most meaningful moments in our academic year—watching students cross the stage, surrounded by a community that helped them get there. I’ll be in Atlanta for the College’s Holiday Cheer event and meetings with alums, but I’m deeply grateful that our School…

It’s Okay to Feel Tired

As we approach the end of the semester, I want to pause and acknowledge something simple but important: it’s okay to feel tired right now. This season brings a lot—grading, final projects, events, and planning for spring—all while the calendar reminds us that a new year is just around the corner! Feeling a bit overwhelmed…

Gratitude and Looking Ahead

As we wrap up another busy semester, the energy around the School of Business is inspiring. From final projects to planning for what’s next, this time of year reminds me how fortunate we are to work alongside such talented and dedicated colleagues. I’m genuinely excited about the future—new opportunities, innovative programs, and the continued success…

Momentum You Can Feel

The last two weeks have been a blur—in the best possible way. Homecoming brought alumni back in full force, filling the campus with that unmistakable CofC energy. We celebrated together—from Business and Brunch, to the Alumni Awards Ceremony, to the Alumni Oyster Roast—and capped the week with heartfelt notes of appreciation from the Alumni Association….

Big Questions, Big Thoughts

You see it. The future of work and the future of higher education are changing—rapidly and profoundly. Technology, AI, and shifting expectations are rewriting what it means to prepare students for success. So, how will we play our part in driving positive change? This question has been on my mind for quite some time. This…

Preparing Business Leaders for a Changing Workforce

“Only one in three Americans believes higher education is preparing students for the jobs of the future.” That insight from the Strada State Opportunity Index report and the recent Future U podcast, ” How States Can Meet the Moment in Higher Ed, ” challenges us to act boldly, and I am encouraged because we are….

Framework Feedback

This past week reminded me why collaboration matters so much. We had a well-attended Faculty & Staff Strategic Framework Listening Session, and the dialogue in the room was so insightful. The ideas shared will help us to continue shaping something meaningful together. I also had a great exchange with Stephanie Bryant, AACSB’s Chief Accreditation Officer. We talked…

Marathon Musings

No, I didn’t run a marathon—that would be my younger brother Michael. But I did find myself inspired by one. While attending the AACSB Innovation Committee Meeting and Deans Conference in Toronto this past weekend, I noticed something curious: for the second time in a row, our committee meeting coincided with a major marathon. First…

Advancing Research Impact

As you read this, I am on my way to the AACSB Innovation Committee meeting, where we will be discussing the Research Impact Framework: Exposure Draft, developed by the Global Research Impact Task Force. It’s a bold initiative aimed at redefining how we measure and demonstrate the value of our research. Why It Matters The framework…

Adam Smith & AI

It’s not immediately evident that Adam Smith and Artificial Intelligence belong in the same conversation. One is an 18th-century moral philosopher and economist; the other, a rapidly evolving technological force reshaping our world. But thanks to Pete for sharing Brendan McCord’s thought-provoking Substack essay, The Artificial Spectator, over the weekend, I’ve been reflecting on how…

Co-Creating the Future

As we continue to shape the future of business education, I’m proud of the way you are leading the way in integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into teaching and learning—while building a vibrant community of practice. This fall, we launched the Teaching with AI (TWAI) Professional Learning Community, supported by the Dreyfus Family Foundation and the Dean’s…

The Power of Mentorship—For Students and Us

I recently read an AACSB article titled The Powerful Impact of Mentoring and Coaching, and it’s been resonating with me all week. It reminded me of the transformative power of mentorship and coaching—not just for our students, but for all of us as educators and professionals. The article notes: “Mentoring relationships are powerful educational tools…