LSU picks new dean of business
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LSU has its first minority business dean in Eli Jones from the University of Houston.
LSU Provost Astrid Merget made the announcement Tuesday that Jones will take over the E.J. Ourso College of Business on July 1, pending June approval from the LSU Board of Supervisors.
Jones most recently served as a professor of marketing and associate dean for Executive Education Programs in the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston.
“Jones brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from both corporate and academic settings, and I look forward to watching him continue the success of our business programs,” Merget said in a prepared statement.
Jones was one of three finalists for the job with Mark Fuller of Washington State University and Christine Riordan of Texas Christian University. Riordan withdrew.
“Although the search committee was presented with many outstanding candidates, Dr. Jones was clearly a front-runner from the start,” said Brooks Keel, LSU vice chancellor for research and economic development.
“In addition to his credentials as a scholar and administrative leader, his business background, experience and people skills will serve him well in his role of building relations with the business community in the region,” Keel said.
Former business Dean Robert Sumichrast left last year for a higher-paying job at the University of Georgia. William Lane has served as interim dean since then.
Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism, a master’s of business administration and a doctorate from Texas A&M University.
He has been at the University of Houston for 11 years and previously served as the executive director of the Sales Excellence Institute and the Program for Excellence in Selling.
Before becoming a professor, Jones worked in sales and sales management for three Fortune 100 companies: Quaker Oats, Nabisco and Frito-Lay.
