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Thunderbird announces new Chief Academic Officer and Dean

Thunderbird School of Global Management announced today that Professor David Bowen, Ph.D., will be the new Chief Academic Officer and Dean of the School upon the departure of Professor Robert Widing. Bowen previously served as Dean from 2001 to 2005.

Bowen, the G. Robert & Katherine Herberger Chair in Global Management, will be responsible for overseeing all academic matters across the school, including faculty planning and support, thought leadership, accreditation and compliance, curriculum innovation and program quality assurance. The Dean also works with the President and CFO on the ongoing task of reviewing organizational structures and processes. He will also work with the President, faculty, and staff in crafting Thunderbird’s vision for the future.

Bowen, in his earlier service as Dean, worked on laying the foundations for the current strategic plan, including diversification of academic programs; established a “one faculty” performance management system; and helped bridge the transition from Dr. Roy Herberger, upon his retirement as President, to Dr. Ángel Cabrera, the School’s current President.

In addition to his achievements in the administration, Bowen is an accomplished scholar and instructor both in degree programs and executive education. His most recent research focuses on global mindset and global leadership; an article, “Globalizing Yourself” with Thunderbird colleagues Drs. Mansour Javidan and Mary Teagarden, is forthcoming in the “Harvard Business Review.” Presently, he is collaborating on analyzing data on the correlates of global mindset.

Bowen has also done considerable research and consulting on how organizational behavior and human resources issues influence employee and customer satisfaction. Additionally, he studies the linkage between human resource management practices and organizational effectiveness. He has received best journal article awards from the Academy of Management and a Career Achievement Award from the American Marketing Association, Services Interest Group.

Bowen received his Ph.D. in Business Administration and his MBA from Michigan State University. His BA is from Alma College, Alma, Michigan. Previously he was on the faculty at Arizona State University (West), was a tenured professor at the University of Southern California, and has lectured at numerous universities worldwide.