Timothy Smunt, dean of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Lubar School of Business, is transitioning out of his leadership role back into a faculty position this summer, UWM announced on Thursday.
Smunt has served as UWM’s business dean for six years and guided the Lubar School through reaccreditation. In his place will step V. Kanti Prasad, who holds an endowed position as Bostrom professor of entrepreneurship and previously led the business school from 2002 to 2009. Prasad will serve as dean while the school conducts a search for permanent leader.
Smunt is credited with helping structure strategic planning processes for the Lubar School during his tenure and also collaborated with faculty to elevate the school’s international standing. Among the highlights of his achievements at the helm was the ranking of the school’s MBA program by Businessweek. The program was ranked for the first time by Businessweek during his leadership and rose in ranking during its second year of recognition by the publication.
Both the MBA program and undergraduate program climbed in the U.S. News & World Report rankings while Smunt headed the school.
Additionally, he helped redevelop the school’s BBA and MBA programs and assisted in creating new online programs as well as a master’s program for students who did not pursue business during their undergraduate careers.
“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 in a press release. “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.”
Smunt has also worked to grow corporate partnerships and boost executive engagement with the Lubar School.
“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.”
Smunt is an elected fellow in the Decision Sciences Institute and is a thought leader in operations productivity, health care management, financial analysis of new technology investment, and international operations strategy. He has been part of the UWM Foundation Board of Directors Investment Committee for the past five years.
