Search Committee: School of Business Administration Dean s Position

Transcription

1 August 24, 2014 Search Committee: School of Business Administration Dean s Position Portland State University Dear Search Committee Members, Please accept my application for the position of Dean of the School of Business Administration at Portland State University. I m looking for a position that will allow me to bring together the strands of an academic career that has been truly unique, in ways that will significantly benefit the business school and its stakeholders, as well as the University as a whole. I m looking for a school with challenges, into which I can pour my significant energy and passion, but that has the fundamental strengths and attributes to flourish going forward where others will merely survive. I believe I may have found a match with the School of Business Administration at Portland State University. With dips in the traditional college-age demographic, competition for students and faculty, cut backs in state funding, and ongoing economic uncertainty, colleges and universities are facing significant pressure. Having read the Portland State Strategic Plan ( ), it appears that University is confronting the same types of issues that many public and private schools are confronting. However, with one of the most clearly articulated, forward looking strategic plans among the 15 or so I ve recently reviewed; a stated commitment to serving as a national model for how student-focused urban research universities can partner with their cities ; a clear commitment to increasing student success and retention; a desire to more aggressively engage alumni and other key stakeholder groups in the financial advancement of the school and university; and a website that gives every indication of an organization that exudes energy and enthusiasm, it appears that the University is addressing these challenges head-on. I currently serve as the Academic Dean of the business school at Philadelphia University. To weather the challenges it faces and to thrive in the years ahead, Philadelphia University has adopted a market-driven growth strategy, with an unwavering focus on innovation and transdisciplinary learning. Nowhere in the institution is this more keenly apparent than in the business school. Over the last three years I ve worked with faculty to develop a new suite of highly successful undergraduate and graduate programs, all with a focus on innovation, including a flagship executive-style Strategic Design MBA program, on-ground and online versions of an Innovation MBA for younger students, and an MS in Global Fashion Enterprise. I ve also played a key role in the launch of an award-winning, interdisciplinary, 12-credit hour undergraduate curriculum in which business students collaborate with design and engineering students, and with high profile industry sponsors, to gain design-thinking, systems-thinking and business analytic-thinking skills. My experience at PhilaU is just the most recent chapter in a career focused on educational entrepreneurship and organizational renewal. As Founding President of Union Graduate College (an independent spin-off of Union College in Schenectady, NY) and Founding Dean 1

2 of the Providence College School of Business, I ve had unique opportunities to catalyze and implement strategic visions and plans that excite organizational passions and drive transformative change. Earlier in my career I spent ten years with a prominent health care system, acting essentially as an, innovator/problem solver without portfolio, being repositioned every twelve to eighteen months to tackle a new set of problems or capitalize on new opportunities. With 20 years in academia, including 15 years in leadership positions, as well as extensive industry experience, I bring the following expertise and attributes to the table that would support achievement of the School s current and future strategic goals and aspirations: Unique executive leadership experience gained through the launch a new higher education institution ü Founded Union Graduate College, a fully independent spin-off from Union College with it s own charter, board, and institutional accreditation, consisting of the Schools of Business, Engineering, and Education, as well as the Center for Bioethics. ü Served as the chief executive officer of UGC and was responsible for the successful ramp-up and ongoing management of all facets of the institution, including fiscal management and the effective allocation of resources in a financially constrained environment with many competing demands; securing external resources for the College's operating and capital needs, including the generation of gift and grant income from a variety of sources; implementation of a broad strategic plan, including strategies and tactics related to enrollment management, student learning, the enhancement of academic quality, and faculty and student success. Proven success leading faculty through challenging situations to forge highly effective, goal-oriented teams ü Catalyzed and implemented visions for the academic units I ve served that align closely with and support the broader institutional vision. This involved a laser focus on innovation and design thinking at Philadelphia University and on valuesbased education at Providence College, a Dominican-Catholic institution. Oversaw the development and implementation of a highly successful branding and positioning initiative for Union Graduate College. ü Took the business schools at Philadelphia University and at Providence College from states of turmoil and gridlock to become effective and collaborative units. ü Launched successful initiatives to better measure and improve teaching effectiveness and enhance scholarship, including restructuring of two tenure and promotion systems. Increased the number of business faculty peer reviewed journal articles at Philadelphia University (by 50 percent) and Providence College (by 100 percent) within short periods of time. 2

3 Successfully rallying faculty to embrace curriculum renewal resulting in significant program and enrollment growth ü Led PhilaU s business school through the design/redesign of six innovationfocused graduate and undergraduate programs in just three years. Currently working on the rollout of an associates degree, BS business degree, and Innovation MBA in conjunction with a partner institution in Singapore. ü Partnered with Mt. Sinai Medical School, Albany College of Medicine, Albany College of Pharmacy, and Albany Law School to launch/grow joint programs, including an eight-year, BS, MBA, MD program with Albany Medical College and a highly regarded MS Bioethics program with Mt. Sinai Medical School. ü Conceived of and secured funding for a Curriculum Innovation Incubator to explore disruptive change strategies for the business curriculum of the future. ü Involved in the launch of 30+ business-specific study and internship abroad programs. ü Across all institutions, worked effectively with faculty to successfully tackle difficult enrollment and retention challenges, with significant outcomes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Recent result: increased Philadelphia University graduate enrollments by 53% since 2010/11. An intense student-centric focus and track record of actively engaging students in and out of the classroom ü Introduced major initiatives to improve instructional quality, in keeping with Philadelphia University s Nexus Learning pedagogy (learning that is active, collaborative, connected to the real world and infused with the liberal arts) and Providence College s focus on values-based education. ü Implemented a dynamic cornerstone experience in which freshmen business students form companies and work with external suppliers to see a product from conception to consumer. ü Introduced a 6-credit hour New York City Fashion Immersion experience for business of fashion students, including weekly trips to New York City where students work with name designers to take new product concepts through each step of the value chain. ü Recent result: increased Philadelphia University s undergraduate first to second year business student retention rate from 56% for the class entering in 2009 to 77% for the class entering in Extensive accreditation expertise ü Personally took Union Graduate College through a highly successful initial Middle States accreditation. ü Guided Union College and Providence College through their initial AACSB accreditation processes. Currently fill a coveted seat on the AACSB board of trustees; last year served as the chair of AACSB s largest affinity group. 3

4 ü Maintained close involvement with and general oversight of the TEAC (education) and CAHME (health care management) accreditation processes. Experience partnering with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, often involving technology-focused programming and ventures ü Co-founded the technology focused U-Start Business Incubator and forged dynamic partnerships between GE Global Research, incubator clients, and engineering and management students and faculty. ü Actively contributed to the integration of regional and national firms, including Bechtel, Benet Laboratories, GE Global Research, GE Power Systems, Lockheed Martin-Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, and Plug Power into the curriculum via industry sponsored projects and new internships. ü Worked with Union Graduate College s School of Engineering and School of Management to design joint curricula, capitalizing on the experience and capabilities of New York Capital Region high-technology firms. ü Played a key role in the creation of a unique interdisciplinary undergraduate program that brings together business, design and engineering students. ü Established a research/consulting center to secure grant money and encourage focused faculty research; personally brought in over $2,000,000 in grant-funding to support the center. Recognized as an educational leader in the communities I have served ü Recipient of two highly prestigious New York Capital Region awards for women executives. ü Served on numerous boards, including a major regional health care system where I played a key role in the contentious but ultimately successful merger of three hospitals. ü Launched vibrant business advisory councils in the New York Capital Region, Providence, and Philadelphia, comprised of up to 50 regional and national leaders, each making a significant financial contribution. Successful history of relationship building with and solicitation of major donors ü Secured the funds necessary to launch construction of Union Graduate College s flagship building. ü Successfully achieved closure on an endowed chair position to support Providence College s new curricular vision, secured funds to launch what has become a very successful student management investment fund, and acquired additional important commitments toward the business school s fund raising goals. ü Play an integral role in PhilaU s fund raising efforts, with several major solicitations in progress. 4

5 ü Cumulative outcome: Have raised approximately $10,000,000 in total, much without the assistance of a formal development function. My time at Philadelphia University has been highly rewarding and a wonderful learning experience. However, by early 2015 I will have fulfilled my major commitments to the University and will be able to move on leaving a legacy I can be extremely proud of. I believe the business dean position at Portland State University will provide the challenge and reward I m looking for and that, through the deanship, I will be able play a pivotal role in the ongoing transformation and long term success of the University and the School. The fact that Portland is in my home state of Oregon, and that most of my extended family still live in the region, is an added plus. I look forward to further sharing my thoughts and background with the search committee and of learning more about the School of Business Administration and its unique mission and needs. Sincerely, Sue Lehrman, PhD 5