NASHVILLE, Tenn. ñ The Owen Graduate School of Management at
Vanderbilt University has announced the promotion of three of its MBA
program’s senior management team members and the return of another to
head its Executive MBA and other executive programs.
Tami Fassinger returns to the university as associate dean for
executive programs. A 1985 Vanderbilt graduate, she was the Owen
School’s associate director of career planning from 1989 to 1995 and
director of admissions and marketing from 1995 to 1997. After working
as recruiting director at Cap Gemini, she became a consultant to the
Graduate Management Admissions Council in 2001. In her new role, she
will be responsible for both the Executive MBA (EMBA) and executive
education programs.
Gary Scudder, who has taught business strategy and operations
management at the school since 1990, has been named associate dean for
the MBA program. In his new role, Scudder will be responsible for MBA
curriculum development and day-to-day operation of the MBA program,
including coordinating the needs of faculty and staff, students and
student organizations and the career placement and admissions offices.
Melinda Allen, who has been director of the Career Management Center
since 2002, has been named assistant dean of admissions and career
management. Allen will be responsible for integrating the admissions
and career management functions of the school’s MBA program to provide
students the counseling, coaching and information needed to
successfully pursue their careers. She will continue to manage the
day-to-day functions of the Career Management Center and develop
relationships with corporate recruiters.
Yvonne Martin Kidd, who has been director of marketing and
communications, has been named executive director of marketing and
communications. Martin Kidd joined the Owen School in October 2003. Her
experience includes positions with the Walt Disney Company, Lawry’s
Foods/Lipton Co. and NationsBank. Over the past year, Martin Kidd has
led the development and implementation of the Owen School’s rebranding
campaign.
With these four changes and the earlier announced promotion of Mark
Cohen to senior associate dean, Acting Dean Jim Bradford has completed
his management team.
Of the new management team, Bradford said, "The team now in place at
Owen positions us uniquely to deliver on the promise we make to our
students, faculty, staff, corporate recruiters and alumni. We’ve put in
place five leaders in their respective fields to bring to the school
their individual talents, and together we will take the school in
exciting new directions.
"Already, the Vanderbilt MBA program is widely recognized as one of
the top-tier graduate business programs in the country, offering a
unique learning environment both for traditional students and
executives seeking the best in business education," he continued. "Owen
will be launching several new programs this coming year, including a
master’s in finance for the fall of 2005. This and other initiatives
will keep the Owen School at the forefront of business education."
More information about the Owen Graduate School of Management can be found at www.owen.vanderbilt.edu. For more information about Vanderbilt, visit the News Service homepage at www.vanderbilt.edu/News.
Media contact: Susanne Hicks, (615) 322-NEWS
Susanne.hicks@vanderbilt.edu