The Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management today announced that Dean James W. Bradford has been named to the board of directors of the Graduate Management Admission Council, the association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. The appointment is effective July 1.
Bradford will serve a one-year term on the board of the nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to creating access to and advancing graduate management education. Representing academia and industry, GMAC also owns the GMAT exam that is used by more than 4,600 business programs worldwide as a key part of the admissions process.
“I am honored by this appointment and look forward to working with my colleagues to underscore the essential role of business education, particularly in periods of great economic flux as we’re experiencing now,” said Bradford, who is also the Ralph Owen Professor for the Practice of Management. “As business school educators, we are charged with grounding tomorrow’s industry leaders with sound management practices, judgment and values, and fostering a sense of responsibility to contribute to the greater good of society.”
Since his appointment as dean in 2005, Bradford has spearheaded the launch of several market-driven and immersion-based programs, including a Health Care MBA; master’s degrees in finance and accounting; and Accelerator, a month-long summer intensive program for high-performing undergraduates. He also established a Board of Visitors comprised of leading corporate executives to further strengthen Owen’s connection and relevance to the national and international business communities. During his tenure, both student quality and selectivity have increased significantly, and Owen has gained in major rankings conducted by the Financial Times and U.S. News & World Report.
“Jim’s role as dean and his significant corporate experience give him an unusual perspective and make him a most welcome addition to our accomplished board,” said David A. Wilson, president and CEO of GMAC. “We look forward to tapping his expertise in the months ahead amid a continually changing landscape for management education.”
Bradford has served as president and CEO of United Glass Corporation and AFG Industries, Inc., North America’s largest vertically integrated glass manufacturing and fabrication company. He also currently serves on the boards of Clarcor Corporation, Genesco and Granite Construction, and the Harpeth Capital Investment Banking Advisory Board. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Vanderbilt Law School, and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
GMAC (www.gmac.com), based in Virginia, was founded in 1953 by nine business schools and in 1954 introduced the GMAT exam, the only standardized test specifically designed for graduate business and management programs. Today, the organization represents 177 leading graduate business schools worldwide and meets the needs of both business schools and students through a wide array of products, services and programs, serving as a primary resource of research and information about graduate management education.
Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management is ranked as a top institution by BusinessWeek, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, Financial Times and Forbes. For more information about Owen, visit www.owen.vanderbilt.edu.
Media Contact: Amy Wolf, (615) 322-NEWS
amy.wolf@vanderbilt.edu