The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) College of Business has named Dr. Gordon Schmidt as the new chair for the Department of Marketing and Management. Schmidt began his role on July 1.
As department chair, Schmidt will collaborate with faculty and supervise department activities that support the college’s mission to provide an innovative and relevant curriculum combined with hands-on student experiences in the business community. He will teach courses related to human resources, leadership and organizational behavior. Schmidt will also continue his research in the future of work, virtual leadership, neurodiversity and how leadership differs across contexts.
“Dr. Schmidt brings a vast knowledge of leadership gained during his 20-year career,” Dr. Timothy Bisping, dean of the College of Business, said. “In his books, he skillfully engages his readers to examine management practices through popular culture references.
“I look forward to the creative ways he will help guide our college in the future.”
Before assuming this role of department chair at UCA, Schmidt served as the director of the David and Sharon Turrentine School of Management at the University of Louisiana Monroe. His longest tenure was nearly 12 years of leadership and teaching roles at Purdue University Fort Wayne, the largest university in northeast Indiana.
In addition to teaching and administrative roles, as well as authoring books, Schmidt has offered his expertise as an organizational consultant for the last 10 years and is currently serving as a book series editor for Emerald Publishing, a global academic press focusing on scholarly journals, books and teaching case studies.
“I’ve been very impressed by the quality of teaching and research happening here at UCA for a number of years,” Schmidt said. “When I saw an opportunity to join the amazing team here, I jumped at it.
“I’m pleased to be a part of the team here at UCA that helps prepare our students for success both today and in the workplace of the future.”
Schmidt earned his Doctor of Philosophy and his Master of Arts, both focused on Industrial and Organizational Psychology, from Michigan State University. He also completed his Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.