OXFORD, Miss. – Ken Cyree has been appointed dean of the School of Business Administration at the University of Mississippi.
A
member of the faculty since 2004, Cyree has served as the school’s
interim dean since 2007. He says he plans to continue the things that
have been done well, while looking toward the future.
“I became
dean out of passion for the school and my colleagues. I felt like I was
in a good position to do the job effectively, and I think I can help
lead the school,” said Cyree, associate professor of finance and the
Frank R. Day/Mississippi Chair of Banking.
Cyree’s goals include
getting faculty support through chairs, professorships and summer
support; continuing to improve the educational opportunities for
students; and providing value to the state of Mississippi and the
region through expertise and business development.
Cyree brings
a sincerity and openness to the dean’s position that is ideal for
leading a diverse group of students, faculty and staff, said Charles H.
Noble, director of MBA programs and associate professor of marketing.
“He is frank about the challenges we face but also offers a clear vision for where we need to be and how we’ll get there,” Noble said. “His dedication to fundraising – probably the primary objective of the modern-day dean – is remarkable. He truly leads by example with his commitment and work ethic. I hope Dean Cyree will continue to serve the school for years to come.”
Being named dean has been a humbling experience, Cyree said. “I understand people have put a lot of trust and hope in me, and I promise to work hard for the School of Business to become better and better over time.”
Cyree is immediate past president of the Southern Finance Association. He has been a speaker at the Mississippi Bankers Convention for several years. His teaching focuses on financial institutions and markets, and corporate finance. He is the Beta Upsilon Chi faculty adviser and former adviser for the Financier Club, and he was chosen as the School of Business Teacher of the Year in 2007.
He will continue to teach one banking and finance class to stay connected with students.
“I speak on behalf of our undergraduate student services staff when I say that Dean Cyree brings energy and comraderie to the School of Business Administration,” said Sue Hodge, assistant to the dean. “His enthusiasm and willingness to serve as dean during challenging economic times is admirable, and I think that he will lead the school to a higher level of academic excellence.”
A native of Dalton, Ga., Cyree received his doctoral and master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee and his bachelor’s degree from West Georgia College. He came to the University of Mississippi from Texas Tech University, where he was assistant professor of finance.
For more information, go to http://www.olemissbusiness.com .