FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2004    
Contact: Jean Wasp, Media Relations Coordinator, (707) 664-2057

James Robertson Named New Dean of School of Business and Economics

Dr. James Robertson has accepted the position of Dean of the School of Business and Economics at Sonoma State University effective July 1. He replaces TK Clarke who has been serving as interim dean since the retirement of Dr. Ahmad Hosseini.

Most recently dean of the business school at Metropolitan State College of Denver, Dr. Robertson headed business schools at California State University at Northridge and the University of Portland in Oregon through the course of his career.
He is a widely known and respected leader in the field of business higher education and within the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) community. 

He has been a consultant and a member of accreditation review teams to numerous schools of business across the U.S., including San Jose State University and Santa Clara University.

"Dr. Robertson's vast experience will stand our School of Business and Economics in good stead as it enters into its year of AACSB initial accreditation review and the continuous quality-improvement initiatives that
will follow," said SSU provost Eduardo Ochoa. "Under his leadership, the School is also well-positioned to expand its relationships with the business community in the North Bay and beyond."

Dr. Robertson successfully led schools through accreditation reviews at Northridge and Portland and recently played a leading role in the reassessment of the role of ethics in the business curriculum for AACSB schools. Besides the accreditation process, he hopes to explore the development of a Family Business Program unique to SSU and to develop international programs complementing the SSU Wine Business Program that would bring students to the campus during the summer.

Dr. Robertson earned his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in Seattle. He has held administrative positions at Chico State University, St. Mary’s University and Seattle University.

He has developed research, conducted presentations and published in the areas of health care, budgeting, human resources, marketing research, accounting and family financial planning. He has served on the board of trustees of health care organizations, chambers of commerce, and community groups

Robertson and his wife Peggy are looking forward to moving to Sonoma County.

CAPTION: Dr. James Robertson