By Rachel Konieczny
Assistant News Editor
As of Friday, Feb. 13, Dr. Carol Fischer will operate as the new interim dean of the School of Business. She is overseeing the restructuring of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program and certain undergraduate programs during her tenure.
Upon the departure of former dean of the School of Business, Dr. Pierre Balthazard, Fischer previously served as executive of the business school since Jan. 1. Balthazard left St. Bonaventure to become the dean of the School of Business at California State University at Sacramento.
Fischer views her new role as dean as a continuation of her prior position.
“When I was asked to serve as the executive of the business school, the primary goal was just to keep things running on a day-to-day basis,” Fischer said. “As the interim dean, I think the expectations are that I take on the same responsibilities that a permanent dean would, and that means getting into long-term planning, strategic decisions for the school, as well as those [approvals and budget forms] day-to-day issues.”
Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., university president, and Dr. Michael Fischer, provost and vice president for academic affairs, met with faculty and selected Fischer for the interim dean position.
Sister Margaret met with faculty twice and with the provost once before Fischer was offered the interim dean position.
Fischer characterized the selection process as relatively informal.
“[Carney and Michael Fischer] did ask [faculty] for suggestions of both internal or external candidates,” Fischer said of her selection process. “I don’t think my selection necessarily means that there were no external candidates, but perhaps only that there was a desire to move quickly, and with an internal person you can move a little more quickly.”
Prior to operating as the executive of the business school, Fischer also served as interim dean in December 2011 through May 2012. She credited this experience as helpful for her new position.
“Having been in the role before, I have a better sense of what to expect than I did the first time,” Fischer said. “I’ve worked also with most of the current deans and the current administration, so I feel like I’m able to hit the ground running.”
Also serving in interim positions at St. Bonaventure University are Dr. David Danahar, interim dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and Dr. Guy Imhoff, interim dean of Clare College.
Fischer discussed the differences between an interim and permanent position.
“The major difference [between interim and permanent positions] is that the appointment is for a limited period of time,” Fischer said. “I think the students are still served well; I think the faculty are served well because I think that the interim deans in place don’t view themselves as part timers or short timers.”
Junior Joseph Gallivan, a business information systems and management double major, commented on his positive experience within the business school.
“Although I don’t know Dr. Fischer, I have heard good things about her and have had a wonderful experience at the school of business,” Gallivan said.
Fischer and a faculty committee are in the process of restructuring the MBA program to reduce the number of foundational classes and provide increased flexibility for students, according to Fischer. The new design also plans to accommodate different tracks in addition to the 5-year accounting degree. Hybrid classes that use technology to allow a professor to teach in two locations simultaneously are also being considered.
“The number one thing is to involve the faculty in our planning, including curriculum review,” Fischer said. “We’re looking at the MBA, but there’s also things at the undergrad level that the different departments are looking at. [There is] ongoing assessment—our accreditation requires us to do assessment so we’re always working on that, and another big push of our school is continuing our service learning activities and doing what we need to [do] to make sure that those opportunities continue to be available to our students.”
According to Fischer, the university is in the process of forming a search committee to find a permanent dean. Fischer hopes an advertisement will be placed soon so that applications can be solicited this semester.
Fischer looks forward to collaborating with her colleagues of the business school.
“We have a faculty that I think is very devoted to the students, and we have great students, and so working with the faculty to make sure we continue to serve the students is really the big thing—that’s what I’m in it for.”
