Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management appointed noted scholar and long-time faculty member Louis Joseph Thomas as its new dean in late March. Thomas, who has served as interim dean since 2007, has been an integral part of the Cornell community for decades. His appointment will be submitted for approval by the Cornell Board of Trustees at its April meeting.
“I am delighted to welcome Joe to Cornell’s academic leadership,” said Cornell Provost Carolyn Martin in a statement announcing his appointment. “He has already contributed significantly to the school’s growth and enduring success with his broad experience and dedication, his vision and energy, his integrity and steady leadership … and has a deep understanding of the school’s strategy for the future,” she continued.
As dean, Thomas will oversee Johnson’s 86 full, visiting and adjunct faculty; 110 staff; and more than 800 students and 12,000 alumni. He will be responsible for the school’s $60 million budget and $154 million endowment as well as for fostering innovations such as the Parker Center for Investment Research and other immersion programs.
In a Q&A with a reporter for the Cornell Chronicle, Thomas discussed some of his goals as dean, including securing a spot for Johnson as one of the world’s top ten schools of management. His other top priorities include continuing to expand and diversify the school’s faculty and student body, increasing the size of its executive MBA program, strengthening ties with alumni and raising the profile and recognition of Johnson’s teaching and research.
Already, Thomas’s list of achievements at Johnson is lengthy. He has helped grow the Johnson tenure and tenure-track faculty by 54 percent in the last decade and has significantly increased the school’s reputation and offerings in the areas of accounting and finance, marketing and management. He also has served as director of each the doctoral and executive education programs at the school, chair of the Academic Leadership Series and chair of the Financial Policies Committee.
Thomas’s teaching also has been roundly celebrated. The Nicholas H. Noyes Professor of Manufacturing, Thomas is a two-time winner of the Russell Distinguished Teaching Award (1996 and 2001), which is given to faculty members whose influence on graduates extends at least five years into their careers. An expert in the field of operations management, his teaching has centered around supply-chain integration, manufacturing strategy, production and quantitative analysis.
Finally, his experience outside of Johnson is substantial. He has consulted for and led executive education programs at several Fortune 100 companies and other organizations, including McDonald’s, Hoffman La-Roche, Bethlehem Steel, Accenture and ALCOA. He also has served as board member and chair of UNICON, the University Consortium for Executive Education, and is the author of four books and countless articles on management and operations.
Thomas’s pride in the Johnson School was evident as he accepted his appointment. “Our students learn and work alongside a distinguished and growing faculty steeped in some of the most relevant research on the issues that shape today’s business world,” he said. “I am honored to assume this new responsibility at a time when the Johnson School is poised to lead the way.”
