Watson taking care of business for another two years

John Watson will remain the dean of the school of business for two more years, after a nationwide search to fill the position ended this week."My preference is for another person to assume the position," Watson said. "But the university has been good to me. I have no qualms with the decision, and I am happy to do so."

Members of the Dean's Search Committee conducted the search. The 13-member committee was composed of business-school staff members, a student representative, an outside representative, a member of the Business Advisory Council and Watson.

Watson said committee members began the search in early fall 2006, reviewed applicants in late fall 2006 and talked to candidates early this year.

Twenty-six candidates applied for the position.

Watson said applicants were placed into three categories: acceptable, mid-range and unacceptable. Applicants placed in the acceptable category had a phone interview with the committee.

"Each business professor was given resumes to review, and they determined which candidates would be acceptable for a telephone interview," Michelle Andhor, student representative on the Dean's Search Committee, wrote in an e-mail. Andhor will be receiving her MBA this year.

Members of the committee conducted phone interviews with seven of the 26 applicants.

Watson said some of the candidates withdrew their applications because their salaries were significantly higher than what the university would pay.

Andhor said the final two candidates were invited to the university. The candidates spent a day interviewing with different departments within the school of business, with students and with faculty members.

The two candidates invited to the university declined to take the position. Members of the committee unanimously chose Watson to remain in the dean position for another two years.

Andhor said information on why the two candidates declined the position is confidential.

"The idea that Dean Watson should maintain the dean position for another two years was brought to the committee's attention by one of the members," Andhor said. "Not realizing this was an option, almost all of the members accepted this idea with open arms."

Watson, who will be 66 years old after fulfilling his two years as dean, said he plans to retire when he has finished those two years.

During the national search, university officials advertised the business dean position on the university Web site, The Chronicle for Higher Education and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Faculty and administrators of colleges and universities use the Chronicle for Higher Education for job opportunities and news in collegiate education. The AACSB International is an organization promoting and improving business management and administration in the collegiate level. AACSB International also shows job opportunities for business educators.

Watson said that over the next two years he will be working toward the re-accreditation of the school of business.