Dr. Renee M. Wachter was recently appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for Montana State University-Bozeman College of Business and Founding Director for The Bracken Center for Excellence in Undergraduate Business Education.

Wachter stepped into the job with immediate goals. "The immediate focus will be the expansion of internship and business professionalization opportunities for students, enhancement of faculty development opportunities which facilitate excellence in pedagogy and provision of resources for the maintenance of a contemporary curriculum," Wachter said.

Wachter received a B.S. in business from the University of Kansas and her Ph.D. in business from Indiana University. Her roles will include providing leadership for the creation of a Center for Excellence in Undergraduate Business Education.

The strategic plan for the College outlines the development of a student-focused program that is unique among state universities. In pursuit of the goals of the strategic plan, Wachter will provide oversight and administration of student programs and faculty development opportunities with specific attention to continuous improvement in teaching, learning, and scholarship.

Prior to coming to the College of Business, Wachter was Associate Dean of the School of Business and Director of Graduate Business Programs at the University of Indianapolis, a private university. While there, she served in many leadership roles for the school.

Wachter also taught classes at Ball State University, including management and information technology in the undergraduate and MBA programs in the traditional classroom setting and in a satellite-based distance-learning format.

Dr. Wachter is excited about her new role at the College and says, "The endowment in memory of Gary K. Bracken represents an extraordinary occasion to enhance the opportunities available for students in the College of Business at Montana State University- Bozeman. The resources now available through The Bracken Center are particularly significant in light of the many business programs whose resources and attentions are focused primarily on graduate programs."

Great things are bound to happen under Dr. Wachter's guidance!