Florissant Man Heads UMSL Business College

One Florissant resident has been named the interim dean for the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ College of Business Administration.

Michael Elliott took the reins of the college July 1, while the search for the next dean takes place. Dean Keith Womer stepped down from the position in order to return to the classroom as a professor of logistics and supply chain management.

Elliott has worked at the university since 1990, starting as an assistant professor marketing at the school. Since then, he’s been promoted to associate professor and became associate dean and director of undergraduate studies at UMSL in 2008.

“Like any chief executive officer, the new dean will need to possess a set of key skills from his or her education including leadership, critical thinking, creativity, ethics, global perspective and cultural awareness,” he said in an interview with UMSL Daily. “Deans must be strategic thinkers and leaders. They must be able to size up the capabilities of each department, analyze where the school’s strengths and opportunities lie, and formulate strategic plans, again all done while balancing multiple ‘customers.’”

As the search for the dean continues, Elliott will focus on keeping the College of Business Administration on a strong track.

“I see several opportunities for the college,” he said. “I envision a series of student-centered collaborations with the St. Louis community that includes service-learning projects, career workshops and more internship or scholarship opportunities. We expect our top ranked international business program to grow in prominence as we develop more international partnerships with top universities in Europe and Asia.”

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Glen Cope commended Elliott on taking charge.

“I’m very pleased that he is willing to serve in this capacity to lead the college until the new dean arrives on campus,” he said.

No timeline has been given for the hiring of a new dean, but Elliott will return to his position of associate dean and director of undergraduate studies once someone has been hired, UMSL spokeswoman Jennifer Hatton said.