Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ann Boyle today named John C. Navin, Ph.D., as interim dean of the School of Business. Navin has agreed to serve for a period of two years to accommodate other leadership changes within the University and retains the option to be a candidate for the permanent position.
Navin takes the leadership reins on July 1 from Gary Giamartino, Ph.D., who resigned to assume the same duties at La Salle University’s School of Business in Philadelphia. Giamartino has led the SIUE School of Business since 2002.
“Dr. Navin’s leadership capabilities will be important for the School of Business during this interim period,” Boyle said. “We must continue to meet the continuing challenges of a changing fiscal environment and adjusting our academic programming to meet emerging paradigms for learning and evolving student expectations.”
“I want to thank Dr. Giamartino for his 11 years of dedicated service to the School and wish him great success at La Salle,” Navin said. “Our faculty appreciated all of his hard work, and we look forward to keeping the School moving in a positive direction.”
Navin said he will work closely with the School’s current administrators and the Provost’s office. “We need to ensure continuity of operation for the School. That includes strategic enrollment growth, on-going budget development, exploration and development of online programming and expanded international focus. It is imperative that our academic quality supports renewed accreditation status, and we continue to be successful in fundraising and alumni relations.”
A professor of economics and finance, Navin has been a member of the School of Business faculty since 1991 and serves as chair of his department. He also is the undergraduate program director for the bachelor’s program in economics and finance, and the bachelor’s programs in economics.
At the University level, Navin has held key leadership roles as chair of the University Planning and Budget Council (UPBC) from 2007 to 2010; chair of the chancellor’s Search Advisory Committee in 2011-2012; chair of the Salary Equity Task Force from 2009-2010; and chair of the E-Textbooks Committee in 2011-2012.
“Dr. Navin is known for his fair-minded approach to decision making coupled with a firm grounding in pragmatic problem solving,” Boyle said. “His experience and leadership at SIUE have been characterized by a clear commitment to both fiscal planning and academic excellence.”