CONTACT: Michelle Johnson, media-services@uwm.edu, 414-229-7490
MILWAUKEE _ Timothy L. Smunt will rejoin the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee faculty this summer after serving six years as dean of UWM’s Lubar School of Business. Smunt led the school during a period of growth in its programming and reputation, and oversaw its successful reaccreditation.
“I am extremely proud of what we have achieved these last six years through the hard work of our faculty and staff, and with the support of our alumni and the business community,” Smunt said. “We’ve continued to build a significant reputation as a major metropolitan business school and, most importantly, a place where students have an exceptional opportunity to learn, grow and gain experience as young business professionals.”
As dean, Smunt established professional strategic planning processes at the Lubar School and worked with faculty on initiatives that increased the school’s international recognition. The school’s MBA program was ranked for the first time by Businessweek and rose in its second year of ranking. Both the MBA program and undergraduate program rose in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. Smunt also provided strategic direction for major revisions to the long-standing BBA and MBA programs, a master’s program for students who did not study business as undergraduates, and new online programs.
His fundraising efforts and focus on corporate partnerships, executive engagement, alumni relations and international university agreements created new opportunities to hire faculty, engage in research and place students in jobs and internships.
“Tim is a man of great integrity and my friend, and I know he will continue to be dedicated to making the greatest positive impact on students and their careers,” said Sheldon Lubar, the philanthropist and business leader for whom the Lubar School is named. “Tim provided the strategic direction and leadership for the school’s significant accomplishments during this time, and earned the support and respect of the Milwaukee business community as he’s worked to build the Lubar School’s academic excellence.”
An elected fellow in the Decision Sciences Institute, Smunt is an expert in operations productivity, health care management, financial analysis of new technology investment, and international operations strategy. He has served since 2010 on the UWM Foundation Board of Directors Investment Committee.
“Tim’s efforts in developing and executing a new vision for the School and being instrumental in the school achieving rankings are well appreciated and illustrate the excellent trajectory of the Lubar School,” UWM Provost Johannes Britz said. “I also commend Tim for his work in cultivating relationships with business organizations. The university is greatly appreciative of his service and leadership on behalf of the Lubar School and UWM.”
V. Kanti Prasad, who holds an endowed position as Bostrom professor of entrepreneurship, will serve as dean while a search for a permanent replacement takes place. Prasad previously served as the dean of the Lubar School from 2002 to 2009.
About the Lubar School
The Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business is a major metropolitan business school dedicated to academic excellence and to providing students with high-quality management education. A dynamic curriculum links academic content, current business models, and state-of-the-art technologies, and is delivered by leading faculty who are recognized for their combined excellence in research and teaching. The Lubar School’s close partnerships with business provide students with exceptional access to industry and executives, as well as the ability to pursue a wide variety of employment and internship opportunities. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2016, the Lubar School is the largest business school in Wisconsin, with 4,200 students and 1,100 graduates annually, as well as 30,000 alumni.