College of Management names Salbu next dean

Tech announced Monday, Feb. 28 that Steven Salbu will become the next Stephen P. Zelnak Dean of the College of Management, effective July 1, 2006. He will replace Terry C. Blum, who announced last July that she would be stepping down from the deanship effective June 30, 2006.

Salbu, currently the associate dean for the graduate program at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas, received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hofstra University in 1977 and a master’s degree from Dartmouth College. He also holds a master’s and Ph.D. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from the College of William & Mary. He has extensive administration experience from various positions he has held at the University of Texas.

Salbu said he is excited about coming to Tech for many reasons. “The most exciting thing is some of the areas that the Institute is focusing on in its strategic plan are areas that are near and dear to my heart. That [strategic plan] leads me to believe there will be lots of exciting things at the Institute,” Salbu said.

Salbu said that the emphasis on international education, sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship at Tech were what attracted him to the position. “International education has been a very strong emphasis for me both in my research and my teaching. There are very few business schools that take sustainability seriously, and it seems like a natural fit. Tech also seems to excel at emphasizing innovation and entrepreneurship. There aren’t a lot of schools I’ve found attractive and Tech stood out. [Tech] seemed a fit beyond what I could have imagined,” he said.

Salbu said the school is poised to break into the ranks of the best business schools in the world. He said that this is a unique position that will require excellence across all areas of the school.

“One thing that I think is very important for a school of the College of Management’s size—where they currently are in the pecking order—is that the school has to develop excellence across all areas but also has to develop niches where [the college] can stand out in the world market. [The school] is very good and wants to break into the top. I will be coming in spring to meet with key stake holders to get a sense of what area that should be. The whole goal being to develop a world class niche market of excellence...shortly after I arrive,” Salbu said.

One challenge Salbu anticipates is that the size of the faculty is fairly small compared to most leading colleges of management. “It is a very competitive market for top faculty; even when you have the commitment and resources, it’s hard to grow because it is a small pool,” he said.

Salbu, who has received several teaching awards, has not decided whether he will teach as part of his new position.

“For me its not the several hours in the classroom that you have to be there, but there may be a problem with the travel schedule. If there is any way to do it, I would love to teach one class a year. If it turns out its not feasible and realistic, then I will miss teaching very much. There is not better way to know students than through the classroom. [Teaching] gives a real boost to developing relationships with students,” Salbu said.

In addition to a commitment to sustainability and international education, Salbu said that he hopes the energy he will bring to his new job will be rewarding for students.

“Something that I think is important for students is someone who has a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and that is something I will bring to my role at Tech,” Salbu said. “I see Tech as a great institution that is posed to reach the very top and that is an exciting place to be.”