| Coggin College of
Business Welcomes a New Dean
|
The
University of North Florida community is delighted
to welcome John P. McAllister, Ph.D., CPA, as the
new dean of the Coggin College of Business. McAllister,
who joined UNF in July, recently took time to discuss
his background and vision for the college. |
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| Q: |
Your
experience includes five years with an international
accounting firm and 25 years teaching and administering
accounting programs at colleges in the U.S. You also
have been involved in executive education around the
world. Your publishing background includes numerous
articles and 15 years co-authoring a reference volume
on international accounting practices. Media leaders
like CNN and Fortune Magazine sought your insight
during recent U.S. accounting scandals. How would
you characterize your career thus far? |
| A: |
Although
I've been involved in many aspects of accounting,
I am very proud that over the years I've always thought
of myself primarily as a teacher. Because I love my
discipline I've always tried to keep pace with the
many changes that it has gone through. I'd like to
think that my continuing involvement in the areas
you mentioned indicates some success in that regard.
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| Q: |
What brought you
to Coggin College? |
| A: |
I
was dean of the business school of St. Bonaventure
University, a small private institution, in the mid-1980s.
My family and I could have remained there and been
quite happy, but the move in 1995 to Kennesaw State
University in Atlanta was too good of an opportunity
to pass on. Kennesaw is a major university of 18,000
students that is evolving from a non-traditional campus
to a more traditional one. At Kennesaw, as chair of
accounting, I was able to assume an important leadership
role both in my department and across the College
of Business. When I became aware of the opportunity
with the distinguished Coggin College at UNF, it just
seemed like a positive, natural progression for my
career. I especially was attracted by the college's
international focus, its AACSB accreditation and its
excellent relationship with the business community.
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| Q: |
How will you build
on the college's strengths? |
| A: |
The
critical strength of the Coggin College "happens"
when a highly qualified, well-skilled faculty member
walks into a classroom filled with dedicated, prepared
students. Clearly we must continue to build the faculty
by recruiting new colleagues and by assuring that
those already here are appropriately supported. Continuing
to attract and retain high quality students is obviously
essential to completing this picture of excellence. |
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|
| Q: |
What makes a student
successful? |
| A: |
Students
are successful when they develop critical thinking
skills, are comfortable and productive with technology
and are effective communicators. Once in place, those
capabilities will allow a student's expertise in his/her
chosen field of specialty, whether accounting, finance,
management or marketing, to make a difference in the
real world. |
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|
| Q: |
How will you lead
the college? |
| A: |
Our
students are coming from the community and will be
returning there upon graduation. This tells me that
my leadership must be two-fold.. First, I need to
be the leader of our outstanding faculty. We'll work
together to make sure that our students get the best
and most up-to-date education possible. Second, I
need to be the Coggin College's leader in the community.
I will do this with the help of our Business
Advisory Council and our Business
Affiliates group. Members of these groups
are important community business leaders. With their
advice and guidance I'm confident that we will satisfy
and exceed community expectations. |
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The
University of North Florida faculty, staff and students
hope Dean McAllister is with us for many years to
come. |
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