Bethel University has named Tom Brown as dean of its new business school, with his role starting Aug. 4.
The announcement this month comes as part of a larger restructuring at the Arden Hills university which includes four new colleges. All four schools are expected to launch in the fall. University officials made the announcement about the first of the colleges, the Anderson Family College of Health Sciences, in October.
In addition to Brown, the university’s new appointments include Matthew Vraa as dean of the Anderson College of Health Sciences, Barrett Fischer as interim dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education and Peter Vogt as dean of the School of Theology and Bethel Seminary.
The university’s school of business is currently in development and brings together the university’s business and communication studies programs, including undergraduate, adult undergraduate and graduate programs and certificates, according to a Bethel university publication.
Brown has more than 30 years of higher education experience, most recently serving as head of the School of Marketing and International Business at Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business.
“He has lived a life of deep faith while leading at one of the top business schools in the country, where he built meaningful connections with local industry,” said University Provost Robin Rylaarsdam. “As a marketing expert, he has a gift for understanding people and helping them see how stories — told with clarity and integrity — can inspire action and build trust. He brings that same discernment and vision to Bethel.”
In addition to publications in academic journals and co-authoring a textbook on marketing research, Brown has been named to the Stanford/Elsevier list of the top 2% of researchers across scientific disciplines. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Oklahoma State University before receiving his PhD in business from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
While working at Oklahoma State has been “an amazing thing,” Brown said he is excited to combine his faith and expertise within his role at Bethel.
“The Twin Cities is blessed with wonderful business opportunities, and we think we’re going to be able to do some great things to support the local businesses and the region and the state and the country and around the world,” Brown said.
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