Jay White, dean of the School of Business, wants the School of Business to keep getting recognized for their achievements.
The School of Business was ranked nationally by Business Week for its part-time MBA program.
“It was my first semester as dean and I was very proud. The School of Business is now 18th in the nation and third in the Midwest,” White said. “No other schools in the area, including Louisville, have been ranked by Business Week.”
White was promoted to dean of the School of Business in August 2007 after being the director of the graduate business program, which he began January 2006.
White is originally from Louisiana, where he attended Louisiana University and received his MBA in finance and commercial banking.
“From day one of my freshman year, that was my major. I knew what I wanted to do from the beginning,” White said.
He then received his doctoral degree in finance from the University of Mississippi.
His first position after earning this degree was at Murray State University, where White was an associate professor of finance for four years.
“I had no reason to leave Murray State. I was happy with my job there,” White said. “In 1998 I was invited to IUS for an interview and I fell in love with the people and the place right away. That is why I took the job here. I am proud to be a part of it.”
White said being the dean is very different.
“I like it. But, I won’t lie, I do miss the classroom,” he said. “I am pleased to able to serve at this capacity.”
White is responsible for the School of Business’ accreditation, scheduling issues, hiring faculty, promotional programs/events and finding answers for faculty and staff.
“The most important thing is that I do whatever needs to be done for the faculty to be successful at research and in the classroom,” he said.
Rebecca Flowers, administrative office assistant, said White is making definite positive changes for the School of Business.
They have started to revamp the office because it needed a change, she said.
“Jay has been very instrumental in the refurbishing of the office. He is super to work with, and is very approachable,” Flowers said. “He is highly intelligent and quick to answer your question. I like that.”
“I find him to be highly effective with students,” she said. “Whenever we cannot find the answer to a question that a student needs help with, he will come and help. It is refreshing to be able to get help from the top. He is very competent and responsive to any situation that is brought to him.”
The gift the School of Business recently received comes to be about $1.1 million. Part of the money is going toward a trading lab and the other part is going toward a speaker series.
“The trading lab is basically going to teach the students applied finance. The students can engage in simulated, and hopefully one day, real stock trade,” White said. “People make different decisions when money is real. We haven’t decided where to put [the lab] yet, but we are thinking Hillside Hall, room 102.”
“The speaker series will have individuals from the over the country. This will be helpful to not just the School of Business, it will also be a great resource for the campus in general and the community,” he said.
White said he is always looking for ways to improve the school and have fun at the same time.
“Outside of work, I like to golf, but I do it poorly. I would also like to say that I like to garden, but my flower beds are full of weeds,” White said with a laugh. “I also like reading and cooking. I love photography. Ansell Adams is one of my favorites. You will find at least two Ansell Adams books on my coffee table at home. When time permits, I still do research in the field of finance.” White is married and has two children. A daughter, 16, and a son, 20. “Neither of my children are interested in business or finance.”
By KRISTINA BLEUEL
Staff Writer
kcbleuel@ius.edu
