Dr. Christopher Puto will remain as dean of the Opus College of Business and Dr. Bruce Gleason as interim director of the International Education Center until their successors are chosen during the 2013-14 academic year.
Dr. Christopher Puto
Dr. Susan Huber, executive vice president and chief academic officer, said she asked Puto and Gleason to remain in their positions because recent searches for their successors were not successful. The searches will be restarted later this summer.
Puto announced in February 2012 that he would step down as dean last June 30 and transition to full-time faculty member. He agreed to remain as dean during the 2012-13 academic year while the search for his successor was conducted. Witt/Kieffer, an executive search firm based in Oak Brook, Ill., will continue to assist St. Thomas in identifying candidates for the position.
Puto became dean in 2002 and holds the Opus Distinguished Chair. He directed the successful effort to earn accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. He also carried out the combination of graduate and undergraduate divisions into the College of Business, established a full-time day MBA program, doubled to 105 the number of full-time faculty members, opened Schulze and McNeely halls and revitalized the Family Business Center. Among the 449 AACSB-accredited schools, St. Thomas ranks No. 110 for its MBA program and No. 80 for its undergraduate programs.
Dr. Bruce Gleason
Huber appointed Gleason as interim director of the International Education Center last September. He is a tenured faculty member of the Department of Music, has taught at St. Thomas since 1999 and is a former director of Graduate Programs in Music Education.
Gleason has led concert tours of New England and Europe. He has been involved in music history research with government and military agencies, museums, universities, libraries and art galleries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, visiting 30 countries in the process.
