Ball State University is launching the second national search this year for a dean, as another one announced she is leaving her position.
Lynne Richardson, Miller College of Business dean, announced she accepted the position of dean of the College of Business and Industry at Mississippi State University on Tuesday. She will finish the semester at Ball State and begin her duties at MSU on August 1.
Richardson said she accepted the offer because it was a good opportunity and it brings her closer to home. She is from Alabama, so this move will bring her and her family back to the south, she said.
She took the dean position at Ball State in July 2000 and said the hardest thing about taking the position is leaving the people she met during her time here. Before working at Ball State, Richardson was the associate dean for undergraduate programs and external relations for the School of Business at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
"We're going to miss her here," Associate Dean Ray Montagno said. "I've been really appreciative of everything she has done for the college. She's really changed the whole culture of the college in getting us more involved with the outside business world. She's been a tremendous asset to the college overall."
During her time at Ball State, both the undergraduate business and entrepreneurship programs achieved national rankings in the U.S. News & World Report.
Her most important achievements include increasing alumni and community involvement with the college, Richardson said. Examples include the NEXT Big Thing contest, which works with student and local entrepreneurs to create business plans.
Also, several programs are growing, she said, and have the potential for national recognition, and the Whitinger Building, where the college is housed, was renovated by private donations.
Richardson has been with Ball State for approximately seven years, which is a normal length of time for deans to keep a position because it is a tough job, Provost Terry King said. He plans to start organizing a search committee immediately so the position can be filled, he said.
"We want to move on it really quickly because we want to keep the momentum going," he said.
Last August, Joseph Bilello, dean of the College of Architecture and Planning, announced he would step down from the position so he could concentrate on teaching and other interests after Spring Semester. Ball State has seven deans, and since turnover typically happens every five to six years, it is not unusual be to searching for multiple deans at the same time, King said.
"If you have good people they will eventually go somewhere else," he said. "If you don't, they don't have anywhere else to go."
Mary Beth Lehman contributed to this report
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
