New Structure for the Business School’s Academic Departments

The Palumbo-Donahue School of Business has adopted a multidisciplinary departmental structure designed to find new ways to build on the school’s existing strengths, honor its Spiritan heritage and seize opportunities to innovate.

Previously organized into five academic divisions, the school’s new academic realignment, which became effective July 1, comprises three interdisciplinary departments, each with a newly appointed chair who will serve a three-year term:

  • Accounting, Information Systems Management and Supply Chain Management Department; Dr. Stephen Rau
  • Economics and Finance Department; Dr. Ryan Garvey
  • Marketing and Management Department; Dr. David Wasieleski.
Dr. Stephen Rau

This organizational change is the product of an extensive strategic planning process. According to Dr. Dean B. McFarlin, dean of business, re-forming along interdisciplinary lines will help ensure that the Palumbo-Donahue School remains distinctive and excels in a number of ways.

Dr. Ryan Garvey

“Overall, these department-level changes will support interdisciplinary work and provide a stronger foundation for pursuing our strategic goals,” McFarlin said. “With a multi-disciplinary organizational structure, we can also develop synergies in our faculty, enhance our operational efficiencies and strengthen the relationships we’ve built with the local business community as well as with others who support our mission.”

Dr. David Wasieleski

In addition, McFarlin believes that the role of the department chair has broadened in ways that will develop leadership skills among the faculty. Along with helping to maintain high academic standards, as they have always done, the department chairs will now take on tasks that are critical for the school’s ability to innovate, provide a transformational business education and make an impact in the community.

“If we are to build on our strengths and seize our opportunities to become a premier business school with distinctive excellence, we must further develop our collective leadership capabilities,” McFarlin said.