The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has named Dr. Frank Braun as the new dean of the College of Business, Health, and Human Services, effective Aug. 16. 

“I am pleased to announce Dr. Braun will be joining us at UA Little Rock,” said Dr. Ann Bain, provost and executive vice chancellor. “I have confidence that he will be an excellent addition to our leadership team and will foster expanded connections with our local community and business partners throughout the state.” 

Braun, dean of the School of Business and a professor of business informatics at Baldwin Wallace University, will replace Dean Jane Wayland, who retired this summer after 14 years of service at UA Little Rock. Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison, associate dean, has been serving as interim dean of the college.

The College of Business, Health, and Human Services is the largest college at UA Little Rock and contains eight departments and schools as well as the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, the state’s lead Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, and MidSOUTH. Braun will be responsible for working with many business and industry leaders in the area and cultivating students to help build the state’s growing workforce and economic development. 

“I see many opportunities at UA Little Rock to cultivate transdisciplinary connections that will enrich scholarship, experiential learning, and industry engagement,” Braun said. “I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues and other key individuals to engage our students and stakeholders in initiatives that promote innovative, inclusive, and prosperous partnerships across the college, campus, and community.”

Braun was selected following a national search conducted by a committee of dedicated faculty, staff, and university stakeholders led by Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School.

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Braun as a colleague,” Berry said. “He brings a wealth of experience and has some fantastic ideas for how the College of Business, Health, and Human Services can further engage our city, region, and state. He is exactly the right person to move this relatively new college forward.”

Braun will bring comprehensive experience in the business industry and the classroom to UA Little Rock. He has more than 20 years experience in executive-level information systems management, consulting and business development, including senior leadership positions with United Dairy Farmers, TouchScreen Systems, and Klosterman Baking Company. He also was the contracted general manager for the IBM North America Technology Asset Management and Evaluation Program Logistics Center.

“Dr. Braun will bring the right expertise and direction to this position,” Bain said. “He will be a community-oriented, thoughtful leader for the college. His expertise and multifaceted background position him to be a synergistic leader for the university’s largest college.” 

Prior to joining UA Little Rock, Braun also served as department chair, associate professor of business and health informatics, and director of the Master of Science in Information Systems Program at Northern Kentucky University. His research areas include project leadership, knowledge management, experiential learning, organizational resiliency, and entrepreneurship.

Braun earned a bachelor’s degree in applied science from Miami University, a Master of Business Administration from Xavier University, and a Doctor of Management from Case Western Reserve University. Braun is active in the cybersecurity domain and holds the Certified Information Security Manager credential.