Gerry Sanders, College of Business dean candidate, presents during an interview March 19 at the Science and Engineering Innovation and Research Building. Sanders is a professor of strategic management for the Lee Business School at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Gerry Sanders, former dean of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s Lee Business School, presented his vision for the vacant dean position for the UTA College of Business on Thursday at the Science and Engineering Innovation and Research Building.
The College of Business dean reports to Tamara Brown, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, and oversees fundraising efforts, student success and academic program innovation, according to the UTA website.
Sanders’ vision is to make the College of Business one of the premier urban-serving research one business schools in the country, he said.
“We have an opportunity to be in that elite set that are focused on those contexts,” Sanders said.
During his time as a dean at UT San Antonio, Sanders increased the six-year graduation rate by 42% and the four-year graduation rate by 126% and raised more than $13.4 million, increasing philanthropic support by 34 percent, according to a University of Nevada, Las Vegas press release.
Sanders came into the position during a time when UT San Antonio’s business school was facing deficits and declining enrollments, according to his CV. He achieved budget surpluses all seven years he was in the position.
He described his leadership style as aspirational, assuming long-term goals.
“I like to set, what I had just called in this last meeting, big, hairy, audacious goals that are vivid descriptions of where we’d like to be in, say, 10 years that require lots of little things to be done in stepping stone fashion to get there.”
While at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Sanders collaborated with other colleges in the university, partnering with the College of Engineering to launch master’s of science and bachelor’s of science degrees in cybersecurity.
He also launched a campaign to construct a new business building and secured $21 million through private and public contributions.
Sanders’ other previous academic leadership positions include area leader at the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University and department chair at the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University.
Sanders said if things are done right, the college’s growth and reputation can be improved.
He has worked in commercial real estate investment and received his doctorate in strategic management from UT Austin. Sanders’ research has focused on executive leadership, and he has published much of his work in various management journals.
He said his presentation at UTA was an opportunity to engage with students and faculty.
“I think they learn more about me in a dialogue than in a one-way conversation,” Sanders said.
@court.franklin