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CURRENT NEWS
Durand moves in at CBE
Richard Durand, the newly installed dean of the College
of Business and Economics, certainly is aware of the challenges
that await him.
In researching Lehigh University prior to coming here in late June,
Durand says he found a "university with a national reputation
and a business college that was flying above the radar screen."
Rather than be daunted by that assessment, Durand says he is energized
by it, and plans to infuse the business college with the same level
of vigor and exuberance he brought to his prior role as head of
the marketing department at the University of Maryland’s Robert
H. Smith School of Business.
Durand reports that there are already a number of initiatives that
have been implemented in the CBE and that new goals have been established.
First on the list is the decision to hire eight new faculty in the
CBE, and Durand says that search committees have already been formed.
"These new scholars/teachers are necessary to bolster existing
quality programs and provide the basis for new educational initiatives
that are currently in the formative stage."
Next on the priority list is the enlargement of the number of students
in the recently redeveloped and substantially modified MBA program.
"With team-taught, integrated core courses, cross-functional
concentrations and a consulting capstone experience in place, now
is the time to expand our enrollment to attract additional corporate
partners," Durand says.
In the near future, Durand plans to begin a major curriculum review
of the undergraduate program with a view towards new educational
initiatives in such areas as information technology and e-commerce.
Durand is also eager to pursue cross-college programs with the College
of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Arts and Sciences
and the College of Education.
Durand was recently named dean of the CBE following an eight-month
search by a team headed by Ron Yoshida, dean of the College of Education.
Durand succeeds Patti T. Ota, who served as interim dean
for two years.
In his first few weeks at Lehigh, Durand says he’s been impressed
by the dedication of the staff and faculty of the CBE and by the
warm reception he’s been offered.
"I attended the MBA retreat that the core faculty held recently,
and I have to tell you that it was the best retreat I’ve been
on in 15 years," he says. "There was very candid discussion
and a very realistic understanding of where we are and where we
have to go. Everyone I’ve met, actually, seems to have a strong
sense of what challenges lie ahead, and I’m confident that
we can meet them together."
--Linda Harbrecht
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