Brian Klaas, the newly selected College of Business dean, gestures during his interview March 20 at the Science and Engineering Innovation and Research Building.
After interviewing four candidates, UTA has chosen Brian Klaas as the new College of Business dean.
Klaas will assume his position July 1, bringing nine years of experience as the dean of the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Henry W. Bloch School of Management.
“This is an exciting time to join UTA’s College of Business. There’s real momentum—new partnerships, innovative programs that build talent for the region, expanded opportunities for experiential learning, and growing faculty thought leadership,” Klaas said in a university press release.
The College of Business dean helps forward student success, develop academic program innovation and drive fundraising efforts, according to UTA’s website.
The position reports to the provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs and supports student outcomes, serves as a catalyst for new and enhanced academic programs and plays a pivotal role in cultivating philanthropic partnerships that benefit students, faculty and the broader university community.
During his candidate interview on March 20, Klaas said his vision is focused on managing affordability concerns, as well as the effect of artificial intelligence in the workforce and career readiness, according to previous Shorthorn reporting.
“Dr. Klaas is an experienced dean who will advance the College of Business’s strategic initiatives through curriculum innovation, research excellence, community engagement and fundraising,” said Tamara Brown, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs in the release.
In his candidate interview, Klaas emphasized UTA’s location in Dallas-Fort Worth and said he wants to use that to create experiential learning opportunities for students and partner with local businesses, according to previous Shorthorn reporting.
“Creating those pathways is something that I think is important to being able to build these partnerships that will ultimately end up serving students,” Klaas said during the interview.
His priorities will be a listening tour with businesses and stakeholders, staff and faculty engagement, and AI initiatives, according to previous Shorthorn reporting.
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