Dr. McRae C. Banks, who has served as Dean of the Bryan School of Business and Economics and the Margaret and Harrell Hill Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy since 2011, has announced his retirement at the end of the current academic year.
During his long period of distinguished service to UNC Greensboro, Banks has contributed to many noteworthy accomplishments. Under his leadership, the School has experienced enrollment growth of almost 50 percent and the launch of 12 new online degree programs, including the first online Ph.D. Program accredited by AACSB, the leading accreditor of business schools. The innovative Bryan Blueprint undergraduate curriculum designed to enhance undergraduate student success, professional development, and career readiness was also launched under his leadership and has resulted in improved student engagement, retention, and employment outcomes, as well as closer relationships with the business community. Additionally, the quality and quantity of faculty research have increased substantially, bringing national and international attention to the School and its faculty members.
Banks was elected to two three-year terms on the AACSB International Board of Directors and served as Chair of the Board in 2022-23.
“Naturally, there were some motivating factors that contributed to my decision. I have been working, sometimes multiple jobs at one time, since forever. I am well past what most consider retirement age. My wife and I have 11 wonderful grandchildren with another granddaughter on the way and we would like to spend more time with them,” said Banks.
Banks noted a desire to do some traveling with his wife, possibly to see the Olympics in Paris this summer, also joking that he would enjoy a night’s sleep of more than five hours in his retirement years.
“The Bryan School Advisory Board and Alumni appreciate Dean Banks’ inspiring leadership and service over the past 13 years. The School has grown in size and regional and national prominence during his tenure. He will be missed. We wish him well in all of his future endeavors,” said Alan Overbey, Chair of the Bryan School Board of Advisors.
UNCG’s Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor Dr. Debbie Storrs has appointed Dr. Joy Bhadury Interim Dean of the Bryan School, effective July 1, 2024. Storrs said she has great confidence in Bhadury’s success as Interim Dean, noting his impressive record of administrative leadership at UNCG and other highly-regarded business schools.
Bhadury is a Professor of Supply Chain Management within the Department of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management, a post to which he returned in August 2023, having previously worked in the Bryan School as Professor and Associate Dean from 2007 to 2016. Bhadury also served as Dean of the Davis College of Business and Economics at Radford University (2018-2023), Dean of the School of Business and Management at SUNY-Brockport (2016-2018), and Chair of the Department of Management & Finance and Director of the Engineering Program at California State University, East Bay (1998-2007).
“It is a singular honor and privilege for me to be given this opportunity to work with colleagues at the one School that I have always called home – the Bryan School. I hope to work with them in the coming year to keep building on the excellence that we have already achieved, in the pursuit of our core mission – providing world-class business education to our students,” Bhadury said.
Plans for a national search for the next Dean of the Bryan School of Business and Economics are presently being formulated and will be shared at a later date.
“I am forever grateful for the deep support of the Bryan School family and Provost Storrs. With it, and all of the amazing things that our faculty, staff, and students are doing, I know I will be leaving the Bryan School on sound footing,” said Banks.
