BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Robert Holmes, dean of the UAB School of Business and Wachovia Endowed Chair of Business Administration, today announced that he will step down from his position and join the faculty at the end of 2007. Holmes became dean in January 1999.
“For more than eight years it has been my privilege to serve as the dean of the UAB School of Business. I am proud to have had the opportunity to work with the outstanding leadership and faculty at UAB, and thanks to their dedication and hard work, much has been accomplished in our school.
“One of the things that first attracted me to UAB was its entrepreneurial and collaborative culture as well as the reputation for excellence of the medical, science, engineering, and research programs. The faculty and I saw this as an opportunity for the b-school to form partnerships with these outstanding programs. I am pleased that we have made considerable progress in this by developing the MBA for Scientists Program, a certificate program in technology entrepreneurship to train scientists, medical professionals, and engineers for success in business, and the newly created track in medical equipment and supplies distribution in the industrial distribution program.”
“Under Bob’s leadership, the School of Business has made tremendous strides in curricula innovation and relationships with the business community,” said UAB Provost Eli Capilouto. “These efforts have touched UAB and Birmingham but, more important, centers of commerce and enterprise where our well-trained graduates work and lead.”
“We have built upon the strong foundation that existed when I arrived and have enhanced our relationships with the business community here in Birmingham and beyond through the expansion of our alumni relations and development programs and through the growth of executive education programs. The school formed new advisory boards of business executives for programs in finance, information systems, and marketing and significantly expanded internship programs for students,” Holmes said. In addition, the faculty have developed and implemented a number of new initiatives including a nationally recognized program in forensic accounting and IT auditing, a new degree program in information systems, a student-managed portfolio valued at almost $400,000 to provide investment experience for finance students, and a number of special international programs in Europe and China.
Holmes’ academic career spans 40 years. In that time he has been on the faculty at the University of Arkansas, Texas A&M University at Commerce and (Southwest) Texas State University. Prior to joining UAB, Holmes was dean of the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass. He also served as dean of the College of Business at James Madison University in Virginia for 12 years. Throughout his administrative career, Holmes has continued to teach courses in the areas of management, strategy, and leadership. The author of four management textbooks and numerous articles and papers, Holmes says that he “very much looks forward to joining the faculty at UAB.”