The College of Business Administration saw a shift in leadership as two department chairs and the associate dean transitioned into full-time faculty positions before the semester began.
As of June 1, Dr. Don Pope, chair of Management Sciences, Bill Fowler, chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance, and Dr. Monty Lynn, associate dean of the College of Business, have stepped down from their positions to focus on instruction.
Pope, an alumnus of Oklahoma Christian University, came to ACU in 2000 and served as the chair of Management Sciences for the past six years. He said his time as chair allowed him to help COBA through the hires he has made and other people he has brought into the department.
“Looking back on those six years as chair, I cherish the memories of helping to interview and hire several new young faculty members that have brought new capabilities and energy to our department and students,” Pope said.
During his time as chair, Pope put together COBA’s Assurance of Learning system and balanced several responsibilities, including budget management, course scheduling, proposing new degree plan revisions and reviewing personnel for faculty, to name a few.
However, Pope said he is looking forward to returning to full-time instruction.
“I look forward to focusing more on my first love here which is teaching,” Pope said. “The chair of a large department such as Management Sciences has many other duties in addition to teaching. The main thing I will miss is the close working interaction with our staff. Our staff are superheroes and I really learned to appreciate them while serving as chair.”
Pope will teach Business Statistics, Introduction to Management Science, and Total Quality Management this fall. Dr. Mark Phillips has replaced him as chair, which is a good move for COBA, Pope said.
“In his new role as department chair, he can help COBA respond to the issues identified in that study,” Pope said. “And he is an excellent, experienced classroom teacher and can thus relate to all the department faculty and the issues that they face day-to-day.”
Fowler has served as the chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance for more than 20 years, leaving behind a legacy that includes the launching of a Master of Accountancy program. This program has attracted more students to COBA since its beginning and has provided career opportunities for many graduates in accounting and finance.
Fowler earned his bachelor’s from Harding University in 1975 and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1977. He came to ACU in 1984 after receiving his Master’s degree from Walsh College in 1983. He originally served as the assistant vice president for finance here at ACU until 1991.
Since becoming department chair, Fowler has hired every faculty member currently serving in the Department of Accounting and Finance. In addition to his chair responsibilities, he is an associate professor of accounting and finance, teaching such classes as auditing and taxation. He has passed the baton to Dr. John Neill, an ACU alumnus and professor of accounting and finance since 2000.
Lynn, another alumnus of Harding University, came to ACU in 1985 with an impressive collection of degrees under his belt, including his bachelor’s from Harding, a master’s from Cornell University and a doctorate from Brigham Young University.
Lynn has been with COBA since 1985 and has served as the associate dean for the last five years. In addition to his role as associate dean, he was the W.W. Caruth chair of Owner and Managed Business in COBA and the director of COBA’s M.B.A. program. He was also the Teacher of the Year in 1990 and a Fulbright Scholar in Slovenia in 1995-1996.
Stepping down as associate dean will be a good transition, Lynn said, but will still be an adjustment with one or two downsides.
“I’ll miss the working relationships most,” Lynn said. “Although we’re all still ACU colleagues, I will miss the frequent interaction with staff, faculty, and administrative friends who work with the Associate Dean.”
However, Lynn also said he is looking forward to full-time teaching and researching again, as they are his two passions.
“Of course, I have more time with faculty and staff in the college, and more time with students in teaching and research – each of which is a treasured blessing. I’m already enjoying investing more in my students and classes.”
Dr. Andy Little, a fellow Teacher of the Year (2011-2012), has taken the associate dean position in place of Lynn. Little earned his bachelor’s from ACU in 1997, as well as a master’s from West Texas A&M University and law degree from Texas Tech, before joining ACU faculty as an assistant professor of management in 2010. Little is a choice of which Lynn highly approves.
“We are so fortunate to have Andy Little to serve as associate dean,” Lynn said. “Andy is an inspiring teacher who embodies all the qualities honored in academics – a personable, energetic man and deep thinker who inspires all around him. Andy is widely respected. He already is providing capable leadership to the college.”
