MCDOUGALL NAMED SEMO BUSINESS DEAN

Gerald McDougall, associate vice president for academic affairs at Wichita State University, has been named the new dean of the College of Business Administration and professor of economics at Southeast Missouri State University.

The appointment was approved in a closed session meeting Tuesday of the university's Board of Regents and announced Friday afternoon.

McDougall replaces Richard Schmidt, who resigned last August to become dean of the School of Business Administration at St. Thomas University in Miami, Fla. Demetrius Karathanos has been serving as acting dean of Southeast's business college since last September.

McDougall will begin his new duties July 12 at a salary of $83,000.

"He is a seasoned administrator," said Charles Kupchella, Southeast's provost. "He has served in an administrative or line position for almost 14 years. He has a good, strong record of scholarship and has a great record as a teacher.

"He has won an award for excellence in teaching and will serve as a solid role model for the College of Business Administration. We expect him to do an outstanding job here," said Kupchella.

During the past academic year, the university conducted a nationwide search to fill the position. Bert Kellerman, professor of marketing, chaired the 10-member search committee. McDougall was selected from more than 80 applicants and nominees ... and from among five finalists who were invited to campus for extensive interviews.

"We had some very good applicants," Kellerman said, but added that McDougall was selected because he has "strong administrative experience and a strong research record."

"He comes highly recommended by officials at Wichita State," Kellerman said. "We think he will do a good job. The college is excited to get a new dean."

McDougall holds a doctoral degree in economics from the Claremont Graduate School. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in economics and a bachelor of science degree in business administration, both from Chico State College.

McDougall said he was attracted to Southeast because of its growing academic strength, high quality undergraduate programs and the vision the administration has for the university and the College of Business Administration.

"The university has a very clear vision of what it wants to achieve over the coming years," he said. McDougall said Southeast President Kala Stroup "has provided very positive leadership for the university and she is supported by a committed faculty."

McDougall called himself "a good listener" and said he is "able to bring people together."

He said his primary objectives at Southeast are to complete the accreditation process for the business college by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business, and to move forward with construction of a new business building.

McDougall has served as associate vice president for academic affairs at Wichita State University since 1988. Previously, he was chairman of the economics department from 1980 to 1987.