Welcome from the Dean
Alumni and friends of MU’s Trulaske College of Business,
After thinking about the college’s and my future, I informed Chancellor Brady Deaton and Provost Brian Foster on October 9 that at the end of summer 2010, I will conclude my service as dean. At that time, I will have completed 20 years in the role of dean of MU’s business school.
I am not retiring, but will transition to be a marketing faculty member. In my new role, I will strive to help my successor get off to a strong start, teach some courses, work with students outside the classroom, and carry out special projects.
Several reasons underlie my decision. I want the transition to occur when the Trulaske College is strong and making progress. Also, I need more time for personal activities and responsibilities. Finally, I think the college will benefit from new leadership with regards to vision, ideas, and a different voice talking to stakeholders.
I believe the college has made remarkable progress during the past two decades. The size of the college, in terms of enrollments, has increased substantially, and the quality of both “people and programs” and “bricks and mortar” has been enhanced markedly.
We – emphasis on we – can be very proud of the many dimensions of Mizzou’s business school, including:
- Top-caliber faculty, staff, and students,
- A high level of research productivity by faculty members and PhD students,
- Rigorous, forward-looking degree programs,
- Wide-ranging, outside-the-classroom professional-development activities for students,
- A remarkably high level of engagement of alumni and business firms in the college’s educational and professional-development activities,
- Educational services that units of the college provide to the business community,
- Our college’s home, the world-class Cornell Hall, and
- The extraordinary generosity of donors, without which the college could not build and sustain excellence in accounting and business education.
We can also be very proud and grateful that our college is graced with the name of Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. I know I speak for everyone associated with MU’s business school in saying that we are very appreciative of the ongoing support provided by Geraldine Trulaske and her family.
Accomplishments during my time as dean have been the result of a fantastic team effort. During the past nineteen-plus years, the college surely has benefited from the efforts and support of faculty and staff members, students, alumni, generous donors, business partners, campus-level administrators, and certainly my wife Pam. Thanks to everyone who has helped the college fulfill its mission, especially with regards to how well our students are being served.
The search for my successor is now underway; check the college’s website for particulars. The goal is to have a new dean in place by the start of fall semester. Meantime, I have much to do, including personally saying thanks to as many of you as possible.
It has truly been a privilege to serve as dean of the Trulaske College of Business. I appreciate very much your support of Mizzou’s business school and of me personally.
Gratefully,
Bruce J. Walker
Lansford Professor of Leadership and Dean