Louis Buck named WCU’s interim business dean

Louis E. Buck Jr., the Wesley Elingburg Distinguished Professor of Business Innovation and director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Western Carolina University, will serve as interim dean of WCU’s College of Business.

Announcement of the appointment was recently made by Linda Seestedt-Stanford, WCU’s interim provost.

Buck will be leading the College of Business while a national search is conducted for a permanent dean to fill a vacancy created by the departure of Ronald A. Johnson, who stepped down from the post June 30 to become WCU’s first BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism.

The appointment of Buck as interim dean was effective Aug. 1. He will lead the college as it seeks reaccreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

“Dr. Buck has a record of achievement at WCU, leading a very effective department and being a contributing member of the university community,” Seestedt-Stanford said. “His background in the business world and his life experiences position him well to support the College of Business faculty and staff. I couldn’t be more pleased to have Louis as a part of my leadership team.”

Formerly chief financial officer for the competitive businesses of Consolidated Edison in New York, Buck joined the WCU faculty in 2007 as Elingburg Distinguished Professor of Business Innovation. He will continue in the professorship role while serving as interim dean.

He has more than 25 years of leadership experience in corporate finance, accounting and strategic planning. Formerly vice president and CFO of the N.C. Electric Membership Corporation, Buck has taught at the University of Texas, University of Dallas and Texas A&M University, and is a retired U.S. Navy captain.

WCU’s College of Business offers top-ranked programs in project management and entrepreneurship, both available online. Fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-International, the college has more than 65 full-time faculty members.

The College of Business offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting, finance, information systems, economics, business administration and law, sport management, global management and strategy, entrepreneurship, sales and marketing, and hospitality and tourism.

The college also houses the Center for Professional Selling and Marketing, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the Center for Information Technology and Assurance, and is home to one of the 17 regional offices of the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center.