Dr. Rod Smith - Interim Director of Business Graduate Programs

Published August 17, 2020

I am pleased to announce that I am appointing Rod Smith as Interim Director of Business Graduate Programs for the 2020-2021 academic year, after Ingrid Martin steps down at the end of summer 2020. However, the transition process will begin during spring 2020. Many of you may already know about this decision because I announced it at the Online MBA workshop on November 15, 2019.

With a current portfolio of 8 graduate programs, I think we need to examine all parts of our graduate education process. This includes marketing, recruiting students, faculty teaching assignments, alumni relations, career development, budgeting, and internal reporting, to name some major parts. I look forward to working with Rod and Jeanine on taking a fresh look at business graduate programs operations. This work will begin in spring 2020.

In spring 2021, a search for the permanent director will be undertaken, following normal university guidelines on interim appointments.

Rod joined CSULB in 2006 following 6 years at the University of Arkansas. His Ph.D. is from UCI, and he has published research in The Accounting ReviewJournal of Information SystemsJournal of Management Accounting ResearchJournal of Accounting and Public Policy, and the International Journal of Accounting Information Systems. He is a coauthor of the textbook: Accounting Information Systems, published by McGraw-Hill. In an earlier part of his journey through life, he spent 26 years in the U. S. Coast Guard, rising to the rank of Captain.

I have worked with Rod since I arrived at CSULB in 2008, and he has always worked for what is best for the college. I think Rod has the respect of all faculty and staff members in the college because of his approach to college life, character, and positive interpersonal style. Please join me in congratulating Rod on his new position.

Thanks

Mike

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Dr. Smith and Dean Solt