Union names Garrett as dean of McAfee School of Business Administration
Union names Garrett as dean of McAfee School of Business Administration
JACKSON, Tenn. — Jason Garrett, associate dean of the Foster College of Business at Bradley University since 2013, has been named dean of Union University’s McAfee School of Business Administration.
Garrett succeeds Keith Absher, who died in 2015 after serving as dean for more than a decade. Bill Nance has been serving as acting dean in the interim.
“I am honored to be selected to serve with the excellent faculty, staff and students of the McAfee School of Business Administration,” Garrett said. “There is no other School of Business I would prefer to join.”
The McAfee School in 2013 earned accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a distinction that marks only 5 percent of business schools in the world. Garrett praised Absher, Nance and Andrew Tiger, director of accreditation and professor of management in the McAfee School, for their leadership and for building a solid foundation.
Garrett has also been involved in Bradley University’s successful extension of AACSB accreditation and serves as an AACSB accreditation mentor.
“Together, we will continue to build on that foundation,” Garrett said. “The McAfee School is well positioned to be the premier school of business in the nation for engaging business communities, leaders and students to transform business through the power of Christ, for the glory of Christ.”
Garrett earned his bachelor’s degree at Oklahoma Baptist University in 1994 under the presidency of longtime Union professor and administrator Bob Agee, who Garrett said is one of his most significant life mentors.
He completed his master’s degree in business administration at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in marketing from the University of Missouri’s Trulaske College of Business.
“Dr. Garrett’s educational background as well as his professional experiences and character make him an unusually capable academic leader for us at Union,” Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said. “We are confident Dean Garrett will advance our efforts to be the very best as we embody our core values and advance the Christian mission and vision of Union.”
Garrett began his tenure at Bradley in 2006 as a marketing professor. He previously served as a manager and consultant at Arthur Andersen in St. Louis.
“Jason Garrett is a seasoned academic and a seasoned business professional whose heart beats in tune with the mission and core values of Union University,” Union Provost C. Ben Mitchell said. “He is a keen leader who will help the McAfee School of Business Administration ascend to the next level of distinction as a leading AACSB business school.”
Garrett and his wife Kelli, who graduated from Southwest Baptist University, have three children – Lydia, 8; Silas, 6; and Priscilla, 4.
Garrett said employers are demanding more of business students nationwide and that the McAfee School will be the leader in preparing students to meet these needs.
“It is honorable when a Christian reflects God's love through business,” Garrett said. “It was in the marketplace that Paul engaged the world beyond the church.
“The world participates in business on a daily basis,” he continued. “Therefore, equipping our students with the knowledge, skills and abilities employers demand will prepare students for one of the greatest platforms to fulfill the great commission.”
Garrett will begin his duties at Union Jan. 23.
