Incoming School of Business dean focusing on student success

Heidelberg’s School of Business will have a new leader when the spring semester begins. Dr. Anne-Marie Anderson has been selected to become Dean of the School of Business and The John & Patricia Adams Family Endowed Chair. She’ll also hold the rank of Professor of Finance.
 
After a nationwide search, Anne will join the School of Business at a crucial time, when her leadership will be instrumental in an expansion of the major offerings, the continued strengthening of the MBA Program, and the development of experiential learning opportunities in collaboration with HYPE Career Ready® and Placement.
 
And she’s ready for the challenge.
 
“I actually started my academic career at a private institution, and I really enjoy the sense of community and the opportunity to get to know students,” she says. “One of the primary reasons I joined the academy is to help others become their best self. I enjoy working with students and helping them achieve all they can, even when they doubt themselves. It’s exciting to have a seat at the table.”
 
As she takes on her new role, Anne understands the changes that have occurred – and those still yet to come – as a result of the pandemic. “Everyone recognized that higher education needed to change before the pandemic,” she says. “It really should have changed long before that. I’m excited to be part of a group of leaders that wants to make the right kind of changes now.”
 
It’s imperative, she added, that those changes are made with student success at the core. “I hope to create a place where Heidelberg students look back and say, ‘Wow, that was an impactful experience!’ It’s exciting to be part of the change process and I hope to be a catalyst to bringing value to the Heidelberg community and to the stakeholders, internal and external.”
 
Anne comes to Heidelberg from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, having spent 4-1/2 years as Professor and Weatherford Chair of Finance. Prior to MTSU, she spent 15 years at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as an Assistant and Associate Professor of Finance. Her new position will bring her back to her Ohio roots; she grew up in the Akron-Canton area and still has close family there.
 
She also brings an impressive set of academic credentials to Heidelberg. She received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and operations research from the United States Military Academy, her MBA from the University of Tulsa and her Ph.D. in Management (Finance) from the University of Arizona. After West Point, she served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers and achieved the rank of Captain. Prior to her graduate studies, she worked for five years as a plant engineer in the clothing industry. Anne has authored several book chapters and has an excellent portfolio of published articles.
 
Anne’s diverse professional background immediately stood out to her new colleagues as well as the search committee, according to Provost Dr. Bryan Smith. “Anne was impressively prepared for her interview with us. She asked insightful questions and shared a vision that clearly demonstrated multiple ways to enhance our curricular offerings to create opportunities for our students,” Bryan says. “I feel Heidelberg’s mission and vision align seamlessly with Anne’s.”
 
As she begins to plan her move to live in Tiffin, the campus community is eager to welcome Anne in January.
 
“I’m extremely optimistic about the future of the School of Business under her capable leadership,” Bryan adds. “We look forward to her joining the dynamic and talented group of Business faculty in the work they have begun to improve and diversify the School of Business offerings to better serve current and future students.”
 
As she gets started on building important new relationships and advocating for the School of Business and its students, Anne has a message to those students, to her new colleagues and her new community as well: “I see the role of the Dean as one who considers what is best for the community – school, university, alumni, other stakeholders, but especially students.

“What you will see is my commitment to Heidelberg,” she says. “Yes, I will bring new ideas, but it is never about me. It’s what’s best for the students. I’m going to work for them to help them reach their full potential,” she says.