Dr. Misty JohansonDePaul University Provost Marten denBoer has named Misty
Johanson, PhD, to serve as interim dean of the Driehaus College of Business and
Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, effective July 1.
"I'm delighted that Dr. Johanson has accepted the
invitation to lead the Driehaus College of Business during this time of
transition," denBoer says. "Her nearly 20 years of experience in
education, combined with her outstanding leadership skills, welcoming character
and financial acumen will serve the college well."
Johanson currently serves as professor and director of
the School of Hospitality Leadership and the associate
dean of the Driehaus College of Business. She joined DePaul in 2009 to
establish the hospitality school and became its director in 2014. She is the
first woman to serve in the role as dean for DePaul’s business college.
Under her leadership, the hospitality school, which is part
of the college, has earned accolades for both its innovative teaching and
faculty research. The Journal
of Hospitality and Tourism Education recognized DePaul's hospitality
and leadership program as the best in Illinois in 2015. The J. Willard and
Alice S. Marriott Foundation awarded the school with a $1.8 million grant in
2016 to create and endow a new Center
for Student Development and Engagement. The center, believed to be the
first of its kind in the country, provides professional development and
mentoring opportunities with industry leaders. A new Executive in Residence
program, funded by Hyatt and Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, brings
executives into the School of Hospitality Leadership to network with faculty, advise
students and connect them with Chicago's world-class hospitality industry.
Johanson will continue to lead the School of Hospitality Leadership during her
interim appointment.
In addition to receiving multiple excellence in teaching
awards, Johanson has published more than 50 top refereed scholarly articles and
two text books. In 2015, she became executive editor of the Journal of
Hospitality and Tourism Research, the hospitality field's top research
journal. Prior to joining DePaul, Johanson was a faculty member in the
University of Hawaii's and Georgia State University's hospitality programs. She
started her hospitality career with Marriott International after graduating
from Michigan State University. She returned to MSU to complete her master's and
doctoral degrees in hospitality business and tourism.
"There is nothing that drives me more than preparing
highly qualified students to succeed in a wide array of business and management
fields," Johanson says. "As interim dean, I look forward to a continued
collaboration with faculty and staff within the college, as well as our many
industry partners in Chicago."
Current business dean,
Ray Whittington, will
step down at the end of the 2016-17 academic year. After serving as
dean for more than 10 years, Whittington will return to his prior role as
the director of the School of Accountancy & Management Information Systems.
The Office of the Provost expects the dean
search for the Driehaus College of Business to begin in the 2017-18
academic year.