Farewell for Now and Exciting Updates
I am writing this note with a tinge of sadness, as it is my last Shareholders message as the dean of the School of Business, Government, and Economics. Last year, I shared with the faculty and staff that I would be ending my tenure as dean at the end of the fall quarter of 2024. Throughout my time, I have thoroughly enjoyed serving the staff, faculty, students, and all of you.
This fall, I had the privilege of leading another accreditation visit by the AACSB. Our accreditation report was a chance to review the past five years as a school, and we are proud of the work of our faculty and staff. SBGE’s high-quality and relevant programs, thought leadership, and stakeholder engagement are excellent, and all contribute to outstanding outcomes for our students. The distinctives of faith and business, entrepreneurship, and the Sustainable Development Goals are highlighted, and we have lived into our mission of “preparing leaders to advance human flourishing.” I believe SBGE’s programs, mission, and vision provide a strong foundation for the future of SBGE.
Some exciting changes are underway in our undergraduate accounting and business degrees. We are in the process of changing our Bachelor of Arts in Accounting degree to a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. We are also making changes to our Business Administration degree, such as requiring all graduates to compete in our flagship Social Venture Plan Competition (SVPC).
We are also excited to announce the newly named Burton and Ralene Walls Center for Applied Learning. Burton and Ralene Walls have been long-time faithful supporters of SBGE, and their most recent generous gift will expand our ability to serve more students in new and innovative ways!
I would also like to take the time to thank Gary Karns for his service at SPU. At 46 years, no faculty member has served the university longer than Gary. He is a professor of marketing and the associate dean for graduate programs and has helped to build SPU’s highly successful MS in Data Analytics for Business. Gary served on the Faith & Co. Leadership team, contributed significantly to the AACSB accreditation process, interviewed candidates across campus, served on editorial boards, published significant peer-reviewed articles, and was awarded the 2023 MEA Marketing Lifetime Achievement Award by the Marketing Educator’s Association. He is also an avid sailor and loves spending time on his boat. Gary is currently on sabbatical and will officially retire June 30.
As I leave this role, I am confidently handing over the reins to Interim Dean Charity Osborn. Charity has been serving SBGE as associate dean for undergraduate programs, and we are thrilled that she has agreed to be interim dean. As we enter the holiday season, I am grateful for your ongoing interest in our school.
Merry Christmas,
Ross Stewart