Campus Connection

New associate dean brings experience growing student leaders, fostering business outreach

When Kenneth Rhee moved into his new office at UWL this summer, the first thing to go up on his walls were autographed, group photos of former students. Notes along the photo frame thank him for “a challenging and equally rewarding two years,” for “one of the best experiences of my life.” Rhee was previously director and founder of the Executive Leadership and Organizational Change Program at Northern Kentucky University, a program that aimed to transform students into outstanding leaders. Rhee plans to bring that same student focus to UWL as the college’s new associate dean. “I’ll do whatever I need to do to make sure our students have the maximum opportunity to learn and grow from the program and achieve their true potential,” he explains. “Our job as a college is to provide the resources and the environment for them to have that type of experience.” Rhee, who started July 1, will work closely with Dean Laura Milner to ensure that the college is not only meeting student needs, but also meeting business community needs. Being director of the program at Northern Kentucky, Rhee also gained experience making business connections. “We need that connection to make sure we continue to update the knowledge and skills we teach, and bring people from the business community in to connect with our students,” he says. Rhee also looks forward to serving the needs of UWL’s MBA students. He brings about 30 years of career experience working in graduate education, including chair of the MBA Assessment and Development Program at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. Rhee was attracted to UWL for its strong sense of community. “Everyone seems to be collegial and also has a strong affinity toward the university,” he says. He sees faculty who, like him, want students to learn and grow. “I’m very excited to be here and be part of the great tradition of UWL and the CBA,” he says. “I hope we, as a collective unit, can engage in activities that will help the entire organization change and grow. In the long run, it will ultimately benefit our students.” Accreditation visit in 2018 UWL has been Accredited by AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) since 1982. Its next reaccreditation visit will be in 2018. Only five percent of business programs worldwide meet these rigorous standards of accreditation. Part of Rhee’s role as associate dean is managing the college’s reaccreditation efforts.