Acting Dean of the Stillman School of Business Joyce Strawser looks forward to the future of both her career and her position here at Seton Hall University.
Strawser was appointed acting dean after Karen Boroff resigned this past spring. Strawser, at the time of Boroff's resignation, had been the associate dean of the Stillman School of Business for nine years.
When asked to take the position, Strawser expressed her interest in eventually becoming the permanent dean.
"I will have the position (of acting dean) for most likely a year," Strawser said.
The University has yet to compile a search committee for the job. The search for a permanent dean ultimately depends on "the presidential search," Strawser said.
The Stillman School of Business has just been re-accredited at a business level by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
"I am really looking forward to the year; it is an exciting time to be here," Strawser said. "The freshmen class of the Stillman School of Business has one of the highest academic profiles; the students are so much more prepared."
Strawser, a Texas native, attended Texas A&M for her undergrad in accounting.
"Accounting is the family business," Strawser said.
After working in one of the "Big 8" accounting firms for only a summer, Strawser left the firm and started her doctorate program at Louisiana State.
A Texan at heart, Strawser eventually moved to the east coast and later on joined Seton Hall.
Overall Strawser loves Seton Hall.
"My favorite thing is how well you get to know everyone," said Strawser. "When I taught, there was no student I didn't know."
Many of those students have come full circle. Director of Financial Planning at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield and adjunct professor for the Stillman School of Business, Jonathan Stout, had Joyce Strawser as a professor here at Seton Hall.
"Hands down, Joyce was the best professor I had at Seton Hall. She has all of the tools: intelligence, charisma, strong work ethic...but her most important quality is her commitment to her students," Stout said.
Outside of her busy work schedule, Strawser enjoys reading.
"I am an avid reader, but I can't start a book if I don't have the time to finish it," Strawser said.
Aside from reading, she traveling.
"I'll get to do some traveling with the job," Strawser said. "I am going to China next month."
The Stillman School of Business has a great history with universities in China.
During her time as acting dean, Strawser hopes to "continue along the lines that the school has been moving and tighten up the things that we were told by the AACSB that need improvement," Strawser said.
"I have full confidence that Dean Strawser will continue to move the Stillman School forward in new and exciting ways," Stout said. "Joyce would be a tremendous success in whatever she chose to do, I just feel incredibly lucky that she chose teaching as a profession and Seton Hall as her home."
Ashley Duvall can be reached at ashley.duvall@student.shu.edu.
