8/16/2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Robert B. Duncan of Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management will join Michigan State University as dean of The Eli Broad College of Business and The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, pending approval by the MSU Board of Trustees.
President Peter McPherson and Provost Lou Anna K. Simon will recommend Duncan's appointment to the board at its meeting in late September. Duncan would join the MSU faculty full time beginning Jan. 1, 2002.
"This is an exciting and pivotal period in the history of the Broad School, and we are most fortunate to have attracted to MSU a leader and manager who will build upon the widely recognized momentum at Broad in terms of quality and reputation," President McPherson said.
"Dr. Robert Duncan is an extraordinary addition to the faculty and to the MSU leadership team," Provost Simon said. "He brings great vision, energy and proven leadership skills so essential to enhancing the quality of our academic programs."
Currently Duncan is serving as the Richard L. Thomas Professor of Leadership and Change at Northwestern. He has extensive administrative experience, has received numerous awards for teaching excellence, and is a widely acclaimed researcher and speaker. Duncan is a former provost at Northwestern.
"The search committee spent considerable time and care in selecting the right leader," said Donald J. Bowersox, current dean and chairperson of the Dean's Search and Rating Committee. "I am confident that Bob Duncan will continue the upward momentum of the school."
"It has been a deliberate and well-conducted search to identify and attract the ideal leader for our important mission," said Eli Broad, the MSU alumnus and benefactor for whom the college is named.
"I am delighted that Dr. Robert Duncan has agreed to offer his knowledge of business education from Northwestern's Kellogg School and his wealth of experience to become the new dean of the college," said Broad, who is founder, chairman and chief executive officer of SunAmerica Inc. insurance company and founder of the Kaufman and Broad home-building company.
Acknowledging the unified and enthusiastic support Duncan has received throughout the campus community, Broad noted that he "will be positioned to lead our college to new and greater heights of achievement."
"I know that I speak for my colleagues on the alumni board in saying we are very excited to have Robert Duncan joining us," said Robert K. Burgess, vice chairperson of the Dean's Search and Rating Committee and a member of The Eli Broad College of Business Alumni Board of Directors.
"Bob's professional experience, as well as his proven academic leadership, will greatly enhance the growing reputation and performance of the business college specifically and Michigan State University overall," said Burgess, who is president and chief executive officer of the Pulte Corp. in Bloomfield Hills.