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UT Tyler Appoints Dr. Robert Beatty Dean of Soules College of Business

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April 5, 2019

Media Contact: Beverley Golden
Senior Director of Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.566.7303

The University of Texas at Tyler announced today that Dr. Robert Beatty has been named the new dean of the UT Tyler Soules College of Business. Dr. Beatty will start in the role this summer.

Beatty was most recently dean of the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.

"Robert brings the business acumen to the Soules College of Business that will be instrumental in helping realize our vision of UT Tyler being a primary economic driver of East Texas," said Dr. Michael Tidwell, UT Tyler president. "Dr. Beatty will help find new ways to deploy the intellectual capital of the UT Tyler Soules College of Business faculty and students to help the businesses of East Texas."

Dr. Beatty began his professional career as an officer in the United States Air Force. He served as a systems analyst/project manager/quality manager for Nuclear War Planning Systems at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska. He joined Amerada Hess Oil Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a project manager for Natural Gas Systems. He was hired by the Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, Michigan to lead the organization's emerging E-Commerce Department.

"Dr. Beatty holds an impressive record of higher education and professional business experience, and it is fitting that he lead our efforts to further expand our leadership footprint in business education," said Dr. Amir Mirmiran, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

"It is an honor to join The University of Texas at Tyler Soules College of Business. I look forward to becoming a part of a distinctive, innovative and vibrant academic community whose rich traditions and enduring values have formed a lifelong bond between students, faculty, staff, alumni and East Texas for almost 46 years. I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with all college stakeholders to expand entrepreneurship and economic development efforts throughout the region," Beatty said.

He holds a DBA in business information systems, an MBA degree, a master's degree in computer systems management and a bachelor's degree in computer science. His areas of expertise include strategic information systems, information systems security (cyber-security), innovation assessment and adoption and e-commerce strategies and practices. Beatty has been published in leading academic journals and professional publications.

The Soules College of Business continues to grow and develop new programs to meet regional and state needs, and it bears the responsibility to serve as the engine for economic development and a catalyst for entrepreneurship in East Texas, especially through its Hibbs Institute for Business & Economic Research, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute, Small Business Development Center and Tyler Innovation Pipeline.

With five academic departments, 62 full-time faculty and nearly 3,000 students, the Soules College of Business is one of UT Tyler's largest colleges. Soules awards nearly 900 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees per year in 12 different majors. Last year, the college received its full accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Only 5 percent of business schools globally hold this prestigious accreditation.

A member of the prestigious UT System, The University of Texas at Tyler focuses on student success and innovative research in the more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered. With more than 10,000 students, UT Tyler has facilities in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.