Business school gets a new dean

A native New Mexican will be returning home.

Charles Crespy, dean of the College of Business at the University of Texas-El Paso, has been appointed dean of the Anderson Schools of Management.

Crespy said as a native of the state, he is delighted to return to UNM after having earned four degrees at the University. He earned his first degree at UNM in 1974 with a bachelor's in university studies. In 1977, he earned a master's in Latin American studies and a master's in business administration. He left as a student in 1984 after earning a doctorate in international management.

Since his years as a student, Crespy said the stature of ASM has grown steadily. As an alumnus and incoming dean, he said is grateful for the hard work and commitment of the faculty and staff of the school. His first day as dean of Anderson will be Aug. 1.

More than 1,700 students are enrolled in ASM, which offers three degree programs in four departments.

"These are promising times for New Mexico," Crespy said. "I'm excited by the challenges before us. In the months ahead we will work with enthusiasm and a sense of urgency."

Crespy said there will be a few familiar faces at UNM from his days as a graduate student. He plans to work to assure a reaffirmation of the schools' accreditation. The credential places Anderson among the top 20 percent of accredited business schools in the nation. Crespy said accreditation is important not only for ASM, but for the University.

Crespy has been dean of the UTEP business school since 2001. At UTEP he oversaw 60 full-time faculty members and led a development of UTEP's first doctorate program in international business. He also started an accelerated executive MBA program at the university. Crespy aided in raising $750,000 for a student center at UTEP for the business college.

"I am very excited about appointing Charles Crespy to the dean's position at the Anderson Schools," said UNM Provost Brian Foster in a news release. "He brings rich experience to the position. He has an extensive background in Latin America, and he has the vision and demonstrated skills needed to guide the Anderson schools."

Crespy said institutions are judged by their efficiency and effectiveness more than their size. He said the goal at ASM is to be the best it can be. People look to the school to provide leadership in management education, which along with research and a teaching agenda will serve the highest and best interest of New Mexico, he said.

For 18 years before serving as dean at UTEP, Crespy held numerous positions at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He was chairman at the university's business school, which is the ninth largest in the nation. Through Miami University, he has taught abroad in England, Luxembourg, Austria and Spain. He has also taught at a private school in Ecuador for one of UNM's branch campuses.

"His record at UTEP is very impressive," Foster said. "He is the right person to lead ASM."

Crespy said UNM's strategic plan recognizes the needs and comparative advantages of the state. He said Anderson will play an important role in helping the University achieve its mission of engaging students and creating enlightened citizens, disseminating new knowledge and promoting economic development.