In July 2014, Nancy Schreiber will be joining St. Edward’s University as the new dean of the School of Management and Business.

Schreiber is moving to Austin after working at the University of Dallas since 2000. 

“Working in a business school in Austin, with the mission that St. Edward’s has, fits very well with my skills, my knowledge and my personal interest in values,” Schreiber said.

The search committee for a new dean was spearheaded by Louise Single, the department chair for accounting and the masters of accounting program director. The search committee was made up of five other members, including Mary Dunn, John Loucks, Mark Poulus, Ted Staloch and Grant Simpson.

The committee began meeting in September 2013, and the process for applicants began in early November. The committee narrowed the search to around 15 candidates. Potential candidates were interviewed and visited the university to meet with administration, faculty, staff and students.

As a search committee, the members did not vote or rank candidates, but rather listed strengths and concerns. The committee based the lists on their interactions with the candidates and an online survey. Vice President of Academic Affairs Mary Boyd and President of St. Edward’s University George Martin made the final decision.

Schreiber’s people skills did not go unnoticed in the interview process.

“One of the things that a lot of people really liked about her was she’s extremely student focused and student centered,” Single said. “She seems to feel that it’s very important to reach out to the students and actually get to know them.”

As a dean, Schreiber’s favorite aspect of her job is interacting with other people.

“I love the relationship aspect of my job, and that’s what I most look forward to, is the creative spark with other people to really create an educational environment where people can go out and accomplish their objectives,” Schreiber said. 

Initially, Schreiber believes her focus to be internal— to understand the people and programs. After that first internal look, Schreiber hopes to achieve a solid outreach.

“I think that through innovation and engagement, we’re going to be able to help get the school of management where it needs to be —community engagement, global engagement and engagement across departments even at St. Edward’s. I think it’s really going to be a significant opportunity to put St. Edward’s on the map in terms of its business education,” Schreiber said.

The School of Management and Business currently has an interim dean, Tom Sechrest, who took over after previous dean Marsha Kelliher left. Kelliher finished a nine year term in 2013, which is stated in the faculty manual as the maximum amount of time a dean can serve.