COB Makes Program, Admin, Faculty Changes

Dr. Anthony Chelte, dean of UALR’s College of Business, announced today several changes in college’s programs, administration, and faculty, including the hiring of an economics professor whose research includes ways to reduce traffic congestion. Dr. Jason Delaney, who recently received his Ph.D. in economics from Georgia State University, joined UALR’s Department of Economics and Finance faculty as assistant professor of economics. His research is on public economics and urban and regional economics, to include ways to reduce traffic congestion. He received a B.A. degree from Penn State. Others joining the College of Business faculty this academic year are: three new faculty members hired as assistant professors in the Department of Management.

• Dr. Michael C. Posey will teach management information systems (MIS). Posey recently received his doctor of business administration with a major in computer information systems from Louisiana Tech University. This follows an MBA from Jackson State University and a B.B.A degree from Mississippi State University.

• Dr. Richard Woolridge, an experienced entrepreneur, international business owner, manager, consultant, methodology developer, architect, and software developer, also will teach MIS at UALR. He taught at the University of Alabama, where he earned a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in MIS. He received a bachelor of science degree in information systems from the University of Texas at Arlington.

• Dr. Otmar E. Varela, an associate professor of management at Nicholls State University in Thibidaux, La., will teach organizational behavior at UALR. He received a Ph.D. with a concentration on organizational behavior and a master of science degree in international business from Tulane University; an MBA from Universidad Pontificia de Comillas in Madrid, Spain; and a bachelor of science degree in political and legal sciences from the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas, Venezuela.

Chelte also announced a new concentration of study in financial services as part of a finance degree. He named Dr. John Hall, associate professor of finance, an associate dean for undergraduate studies. Hall will continue to teach. Dr. Roger Roderick, who has been serving as interim associate dean for special projects, is now associate dean of graduate studies. Dr. Jane Wayland, who has served for the past year as associate dean of graduate studies and previously as the college’s interim dean, began July 1 as chair of the Department of Marketing and Advertising. Will Elliott, who has been the college’s director of development for the past two years, was promoted to director of executive MBA and external relations.