Robert Sumichrast

Robert T. Sumichrast is an academic administrator currently serving as dean of the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech. Sumichrast received his bachelor's degree in physics from Purdue University in 1979, and his Ph.D. in management science from Clemson University. His research includes numerous publications in some of the leading peer-reviewed research journals in the fields of management science and operations management. Sumichrast has served as president of the southwestern Virginia chapter of the American Production and Inventory Control Society, and president of the southeastern chapter of the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science. He was a member of the board of the Southern Business Administration Association, and is a member of the board of directors of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International.[1]

Robert Sumichrast
BornApril 24th
Alma materPurdue University (B.S.), Clemson University (Ph.D.)
OccupationDean of Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business
Dean, Pamplin College of Business
Assumed office
July 1, 2013
Preceded byRichard E. Sorensen
WebsiteUniversity Directory

Academic career

Virginia Tech

Sumichrast began his career as an assistant professor of management science at Virginia Tech in 1984. After 6 years, he rose to associate professor, and then a professor of management science and information technology in 1996. Sumichrast was named the associate dean of graduate and international programs at Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business in 1998.

Louisiana State University

After nearly twenty years at Virginia Tech, Sumichrast left to become the dean of the E.J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University in 2003. During this time Sumichrast expanded their international programs and increased development efforts.

University of Georgia

In 2007, Sumichrast became the dean of the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. During this time Dr. Sumichrast increased research programs, expanded alumni relations, and led efforts to fund a new classroom building and meeting space.[2] In 2008, Sumichrast presented alongside Steve Forbes at the Georgia Economic Outlook luncheon, warning of three recession triggers.[3] In 2011, Sumichrast was appointed to the board of directors of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business[4]

Virginia Tech

In 2013, Sumichrast returned[5] to Virginia Tech to serve as Dean for the Pamplin College of Business.[6]

Since coming to Virginia Tech, Sumichrast implemented the Innovate Entrepreneurial Living Community, established the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship,[7] increased the amount of furniture available in public spaces around Pamplin Hall, and managed the college's response to controversies surrounding the Finance Department's BB&T Distinguished Lecture Series.[8] Sumichrast also chaired the Doctoral Education Task Force of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which published “The Promise of Doctoral Education” in 2013.[9]

In the strategic plans for 2014–2019, Sumichrast laid out the framework for the construction of Pamplin College's Business Learning Community.[10] The GBAC will grow the college's footprint on campus, while establishing collaborative spaces, growing the three college centers, and developing a residential community. In 2016, Virginia Tech announced plans for the construction of a new Global Business and Data Analytics Complex.[11]

The Distinguished Lecture Series, established in 2007 with a $1 million gift from BB&T Charitable Foundation, features an invited speaker each semester discussing the foundations of capitalism and freedom.[12] Announcement of the March 2016 speaker, Charles Murray, sparked campus protests. Sumichrast decided not to disinvite Murray or cancel the lecture. Addressing protestors' concerns, he transferred responsibility for speaker invitations from finance professor and program director Douglas Patterson to a newly formed committee, hosted a two-hour Teach In with students and faculty members, and arranged for a publicly funded counter-lecture.[13]

In May 2016, Sumichrast's statements concerning an alleged speaking invitation and disinvitation to Manhattan Institute senior fellow and Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Riley garnered controversy.[14][15] Following clarifying statements from the lecture series committee - its selected speaker for the fall lecture was Harvard economics professor Robert Barro - Sumichrast and Virginia Tech President Tim Sands apologized for the misunderstanding and invited Riley to speak at the university at a future date.[16]

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References
  1. About Dr. Sumichrast
  2. Grillo, Jerry. "The Science Of Business". GeorgiaTrend.
  3. Dodson, David. "Forbes and Sumichrast to headline Dec. 3 Georgia Economic Outlook luncheon". UGA Today.
  4. Dodson, David. "Sumichrast elected to AACSB board that governs and accredits business schools worldwide". UGA Today. University of Georgia.
  5. Shearer, Lee. "UGA business dean leaving for job at Virginia Tech". OnlineAthens. Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  6. Seal, Dean (24 January 2013). "Q&A with Robert Sumichrast, new dean of Pamplin". Collegiate Times. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  7. So, Sookhan. "Pamplin selects executive director, director to lead new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship". Virginia Tech News.
  8. http://www.roanoke.com/news/education/higher_education/virginia_tech/sparring-continues-over-virginia-tech-lecture-series/article_731beeee-0f97-55ba-9db5-bca21022c9c1.html
  9. "The Promise of Business Doctoral Education". Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
  10. "The Pamplin College of Business: 2014-19 Strategic Plan". pamplin.vt.edu. Virginia Tech. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  11. Korth, Robby. "Virginia Tech announces plan for $225 million 'Global Business and Data Analytics Complex'". The Roanoke Times.
  12. https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2016/09/pamplin-bbtbarro.html
  13. http://www.collegiatetimes.com/news/murray-criticism-prompts-pamplin-lecture-series-change/article_90bff1c8-ec99-11e5-9deb-1335ac7c7742.html
  14. https://www.nas.org/articles/jason_rileys_invitation_and_disinvitation_emails
  15. https://heatst.com/culture-wars/exclusive-internal-documents-show-backlash-over-virginia-techs-disinvitation-of-jason-riley/
  16. http://www.roanoke.com/news/education/higher_education/virginia_tech/columnist-will-speak-at-virginia-tech-after-school-issues-apology/article_6747ad7a-518a-57af-8363-8711634b0d72.html
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