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COBA begins search for new dean

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A search committee has set out to fill the dean position for the College of Business Administration by the end of this semester.

Dr. Rick Lytle, the former dean of COBA, finished his work at ACU in January and will begin his new leadership role for CEO Forum Inc., a Colorado-based organization. Lytle was the dean for 18 years, the longest tenure of any COBA dean.

Under Lytle’s leadership, COBA started Leadership Summit, the Accreditation for the Business School and the launch of the School of Information Technology and Computing.

“Dr. Lytle has a great passion for challenging people to lead and minister in the workplace,” said Dr. Brad Crisp, interim dean of COBA. “I am delighted that he will be able to do that in his role as CEO of CEO Forum. And I am thankful that he will continue to work with ACU students and alumni through the Lytle Center for Leadership.”

Provost Dr. Robert Rhodes asked Crisp to serve as the interim dean. Rhodes also formed the search committee in early November.

The search committee will select the new dean for COBA later this semester and is made of seven faculty members including the chairman, Dr. Darryl Tippens.

The committee members are:

  • Dr. Darryl Tippens – University Distinguished Scholar, Office of the Provost
  • Jozell Brister – associate professor of economics
  • Dr. John Homer – associate professor of computer science
  • Tim Johnston – assistant dean of the College of Business Administration
  • Dr. John Neill III – chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance
  • Dr. Terry Pope – professor of finance
  • Dr. Greg Straughn – dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

“We help shape the short list of potential candidates and then hand over that list to the provost,” Tippens said. “We hope to complete our work in the spring because ideally you would have your new dean in the fall term 2016. If it takes longer, it takes longer.”

The search committee began by formulating a job description and began advertising it widely.

“This search is a national search,” Tippens said. “We are receiving a combination of applicants and nominations.”

Candidates may or may not have a connection with the university.

“There will be both internal and external candidates, I’m sure,” Tippens said.

As for the number of candidates the committee will look at, Tippens said there are more than 20 potential applicants.

For more information regarding qualifications for the position and what the committee will be evaluating, visit http://acu.edu/coba-dean.

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