Blum announces decision to step down

Terry Blum announced her decision on Monday to step down from her position as dean of the College of Management. She said that the resignation would be effective as of June 30, 2006.

Afterwards, she plans to rejoin the faculty and head the creation of a new institute, which is tentatively being called the Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship.

Blum said that the College of Management stands to benefit from new leadership. In a letter to the faculty, she wrote that her most significant accomplishments included improving the MBA program, moving the college to Tech Square and hiring helpful faculty.

"I thought about staying," she said, "and leaving is a little bittersweet, but the college is poised for greatness. I think a new leader will be able to bring us new, fresh ideas."

By taking up her new position, Blum said, she would be able to focus more on interacting with students and faculty.

"There are a variety of reasons for which I am stepping down," she said. "One of them is that as a dean, I spend a good deal of time on administrative things, and I want to be more closely connected with the students and faculty. I have been dean for six years now, and it will be seven after I step down."

The Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship will focus on merging its two major themes together. The leadership part of the institute, according to Blum, will involve the creation of classes relating to leadership as well as research. The entrepreneurship part will focus on creating international markets and developing entrepreneurs.

"Basically," Blum said, "I want to bring leadership and entrepreneurship together. Leadership skills are really very important. I want to educate students on different aspects of leadership, such as what makes a good team."

Because the institute is in its beginning stages, Blum said that she is still discussing her aims with the major stakeholders.

The goals of the institute, she said, must also take into account the interests of the College of Management and of Tech as a whole. However, she said, the major players in the institute's formation have more than enough resources.

"I already have an endowed chair in entrepreneurship, and the other people involved also have strong resources. Because of this, we have an incredible basis; this is not something that we will have to wait a long time for," Blum said.

One of Blum's main goals is to have a minor in leadership at some point.

"There needs to be some greater program of classes based on researching leadership; what I would like to see is the students and faculty capturing onto a theme. This will benefit both the students and the intellectual community," she said.

"I feel that all students, not only student leaders, have great leadership potential, especially at a place like Tech," Blum said.

In addition to heading the effort to create the institute, Blum will continue to teach courses in leadership.

"The joke in the office is that I'm being promoted to the faculty," she said. "It is an honor to be a member of the faculty at Tech."

Blum said that even though it means stepping down from a higher position, she is excited to join the faculty.

"I am looking forward to it; the best thing in the world is to be a faculty member with students like Tech's," she said. "They represent our future."

Blum was named to the Tedd Munchak chair in 1996, and became dean of the College of Management in 1999. She also plays a key role in Georgia Tech Technology Ventures and the Georgia Tech's Economic Development Institute.