Johnson named first BB&T Professor
Western Carolina University Interim Provost Linda Seestedt-Stanford has announced to the campus that Ronald A. Johnson, dean of WCU’s College of Business since June 2007, is stepping down as dean, effective June 30, to become the university’s first BB&T Distinguished Professor of Capitalism.
“Dr. Johnson has brought dramatic change to the college during his time as dean,” Provost Seestedt-Stanford said. “The numerous innovations that have occurred during his tenure leave our College of Business a stronger, more sharply focused organization.”
Ronald A. Johnson
As dean, Johnson developed a strategic direction characterized by engagement and entrepreneurship, led the implementation of changes in the undergraduate and graduate curricula, introduced a brand centered on the theme “Business Ready,” hired faculty with academic and industry experience, and supported faculty participation in post-doctoral bridge programs.
“We were able to re-engage alumni, improve relationships with private and public sector institutions across the region and the state, and increase fundraising and development activities on behalf of the college,” Johnson said. “The College of Business now stands as an emergent leader in business education, student preparedness and regional engagement.”
Seestedt-Stanford said Johnson was instrumental in acquiring a November 2008 commitment for the largest gift in the college’s history – $1 million from the BB&T Foundation to support the study of leadership, ethics and capitalism. Half of BB&T’s gift is being matched by the state to create the $1 million professorship endowment, while the other $500,000 of the donation will allow WCU to provide four annual awards to support student research and creative work in the area of leadership, ethics and capitalism, and to create an awards program for faculty members engaged in scholarly work focused on those same issues.
“Dr. Johnson is the ideal candidate for this professorship,” Seestedt-Stanford said. “His experience in business, government and academia, as well as a diverse regional and global perspective, supports his unique vision and ability to bridge real world practice and theory.”
Johnson said the BB&T professorship “provides a platform for addressing the fundamental questions of leadership effectiveness, ethics and accountability that challenge all of our institutions.”
“I look forward to completing my manuscript, “Build to Compete,” which reflects my research and collaborations with global leaders in the areas of innovation, growth and sustainability and in preparing graduates with the competence and understanding of how to make a difference in their world with integrity and a dedicated commitment to service,” he said.
Johnson has served as president and chief investment officer at Smith Graham & Co., an institutional investment management firm in Houston; director of global fixed income research and senior portfolio manager for Templeton Worldwide Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; chief strategist and head of research for Americas Trust Bank in Miami; division chief of domestic financial markets for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; and economist for the International Monetary Fund and the Federal Reserve System board of governors. He has taught at Texas Southern University in Houston, Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Northeastern University in Boston, and Howard University in Washington, D.C.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Johnson earned his doctoral and master’s degrees in economics from Stanford University, and a master’s degree in business administration with a specialty in finance and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y.
