Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Dr. James Lackritz has been named Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Lackritz replaces Dr. Robert Wilbur who retired recently after working in a variety of capacities at SDSU since 1974. Most recently, Lackritz was Professor of Information and Decision Systems and Associate Dean of the Graduate Division at SDSU. Lackritz joined the faculty in 1977 after receiving M.Stat. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Florida. Dr. Lackritz teaches Business Statistics and served as Department Chair from 1986-1993. He has been the faculty coordinator for the new MBA specialization in Business Sports Management.

Lackritz is a faculty co-founder of the Institute for Quality and Productivity, a program through Professional Development in the College of Extended Studies which teaches Total Quality Management and Statistical Process Control concepts to local area companies. He is a consultant to local businesses and is a renowned statistical expert in litigation.

“I am thrilled to have been chosen for this important position,” Lackritz said. “I am looking forward to building on the momentum of Dean Naughton and Bob Wilbur. We are fortunate to have outstanding faculty and it is my goal to provide them the support they need to continue delivering the highest quality education possible and build on their professional careers.”

Director of Executive and Specialized Programs

Karen Courtney has been named Director of Executive and Specialized Programs. Courtney is responsible for managing the self-supporting executive and specialized programs in the College. These currently include the MBA for Executives Program, a Certificate Program in Executive Financial Planning and a newly established MBA in Sports Management, a program created in partnership with the San Diego Padres.

Courtney served as Director of Recruiting, Admissions and Financial Aid for the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at the University of California, San Diego. Prior, she was the Director of Recruiting and Admissions for The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, 1999-2003. Courtney served as Associate Director of International Executive Programs at the State University of New York at Buffalo from 1995-1999. She received her B.A. from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY and her M.A. from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

“A lot of influential San Diegans have attended the executive programs at SDSU and there is opportunity to build upon the groundwork already in place to add to that alumni base,” Courtney said. “I am looking forward to working with the faculty and staff to grow the programs and expand services to students, as well as deliver new products of the highest quality.”

Director of Communications

Randy Carmical is the new Director of Communications. He is responsible for overseeing the College’s print and electronic media, setting strategies to meet the long-term communications goals of the dean and faculty, and working with the media to gain favorable coverage for the College.

Carmical comes to SDSU most recently from Honolulu where he was Director of Marketing for Hawaii Business College. He has held marketing and public relations positions at both public and private educational organizations including: a consortium of 32 Texas universities involved in international programs, the Seattle Public School District, an educational service district, and a community technical college. He earned his B.S. from The University of Texas at Austin.

”There are a lot of great people doing great work in the College of Business,” Carmical said. “I look forward to helping the College gain the recognition it deserves both locally and nationally, as well as strengthening our internal and external communications channels.”

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