Aggie turns Tiger: Jones appointed dean of LSU business school

By: Angel Hadnott

Posted: 7/24/08

August 2008 will consist of many firsts. It will be the first month of classes for returning and new Aggies. It will also be the first semester Eli Jones, class of 1982, will serve as the dean of E. J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University.

Jones was appointed on July 1 by LSU's executive vice chancellor.

Jones said he plans to take the college of business to the next level.

"I will work closely and diligently with the faculty, staff and business community to secure a state-of-the-art business complex in which the students will enjoy a distinct learning environment, which will prepare them for leadership in a global and interconnected world," Jones said. "Our faculty will continue to ramp up their research output such that we continue our path toward thought leadership recognized around the world."

Jones will be the first minority to serve as dean of college of business.

Jones was selected for the position because of his qualifications in business and academics. Jones has published over thirty articles in major marketing management journals and co-authored two books. Jones obtained his undergraduate, MBA, and Ph. D from Texas A&M University.

"I'm thankful for both my corporate and academic training,"Jones said. "My skill set is, perhaps, a unique combination of both experiences. Corporate America equipped me for leadership,and academia prepared me to be a scholar. As dean, one has to empathize and appreciate life as a professor and life as a businessperson.I understand both lives, which I trust will make me an effective leader in academia."

Brooks Keels, LSU's vice chancellor for research and economic development, said she is happy to have Jones join their faculty.

"The search committee was presented with many outstanding candidates, Dr. Jones was clearly a front runner from the start," Keel said.

Prior to being appointed to dean, Jones served as the professor of marketing and the associate dean for executive education at the C.T. Bauer College of Business at University of Houston.

Jones served at the University of Houston for 11 years.

"I will always cherish my experience at the University of Houston," Jones said. "I started my academic career there. I was given the opportunity to build my reputation as a scholar there. My UH colleagues supported and encouraged me from day one, and I will never forget."

During his term at the University of Houston, Jones helped launch and create the Sales Excellence Institute, a program that builds the bridge between business and academia.

"Obtaining my Ph.D. from Texas A&M, and earning my way from assistant professor to full professor was the most challenging and certainly the most fulfilling," Jones said.