The Challenge For UNM Business School

Chuck Crespy returned to the University of New Mexico, where he earned his master’s degree and Ph.D., with high hopes in August 2004.

Achievements during his tenure as dean of the Anderson School of Management might grace any rsum. The accreditation, which his predecessor believed the school might lose because of inadequate staff, was extended for six years. A professional MBA program and a master of accountancy professional track were established. Students began trading with a $2 million account instead of play money. And the east end of the Graduate School of Management building has been transformed into a place tempting students to linger and get in the habit of talking business and collaborating with other students.

In all, not too shabby for 21/2 years, but far short of Crespy’s expectations.

“I have failed to build unity in a fractious faculty,” Crespy wrote in a dear-colleagues letter announcing his resignation. “This is the most bitter disappointment of my professional career.”

Deteriorating relations became evident when Crespy questioned whether all outside consulting by faculty members conformed to school policy. There was a 23-42 no-confidence vote by the faculty. It was followed by a full audit of outside employment that university officials said had been in the works but some faculty members suspected was retribution for the no-confidence vote.

“It is difficult to lead where others are unwilling to follow,” Crespy wrote. “It is my hope that whomever the University leadership should choose will have the support of the entire faculty, staff, foundation board and — most important — the business community. It will be a challenge for the Anderson community to work toward a common purpose, but I believe that the School can rise to that challenge.”

That’s academic understatement. When the school’s graduates go to work, there is no question but that they will work toward their organizations’ goals, that businesses must meet that challenge or go out of business.

Anderson students should expect no less of their professors.

(c) 2007 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.