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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Atlanta | Posted: June 13, 2005
Terry C. Blum, dean and Tedd Munchak chairholder of the College of Management at Georgia Tech, announced today that she will step down as dean of the College, effective June 30, 2006. Blum has led the Georgia Tech College of Management since the summer of 1999, when she replaced Lloyd Byars. Among her most notable accomplishments to date were: changing the MSM degree to a MBA degree, leading the design and move of the college into their signature facility at Technology Square, hiring 60 percent of the college's faculty in the last six years, and considerably improving the College's ratings in a number of rankings from Forbes Magazine, BusinessWeek, to U.S. News and World Report and the Financial Times of London.
"Terry provided leadership at a very important time for the College," said President Wayne Clough. "Among a number of notable accomplishments, I think that she did an excellent job in leading the College across the Connector and into a more visible profile at Technology Square. The quality and sophistication of that space will help tremendously in continuing to recruit outstanding faculty, students, and staff."
When Blum became dean in 1999, she broke ground as one of the first women deans of an academic college at Georgia Tech. In addition to being a professor, she previously served as the director of the College's Center for Entrepreneurship and New Venture Development (1996-2000). She was named to the Tedd Munchak chair in entrepreneurship in 1996 making her the first woman at Georgia Tech to be awarded an endowed chair.
"As dean, Terry has accomplished what she set out to do six years ago," said Provost Jean-Lou Chameau. "She focused on improving the faculty, raising enthusiasm and support for the new business school building, increasing our global presence and improving external recognition of the technology-focused MBA program. She stabilized and improved the College and I'm very appreciative of her efforts."
A search process will be initiated immediately with the goal of selecting a new dean by the time Blum officially steps down.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to lead the College of Management during this exciting time of change and growth," says Blum. "We have accomplished a great deal over the last six years, some of it obvious and some of it more subtle. However, I'm ready to return to my research and teaching and leadership in other capacities than dean. I look forward to helping a new dean take over the leadership of this great college. Like all strong organizations, the best years lie ahead for the College of Management and I look forward to continuing to contribute to that. We are good, maybe even excellent," said Blum, "but the goal is to be GREAT. The real measure of my success will be how well my successor does in leading the College to new heights."
Dr. Blum has researched and published extensively on topics related to innovation and technology transfer in health services related to behavioral health care, an area of increasing importance in innovation strategy. In 1998, she co-received a Whitaker Foundation special opportunities grant (1998-2001) to develop and implement a curriculum in entrepreneurship and innovation for graduate students in biomedical technology and life sciences reflecting her interests in technology transfer and value creation. This curriculum has since been expanded to include students from all of the engineering, science and computing disciplines.
Blum currently serves as an advisor or director for several entrepreneurial endeavors including: Stanford's Roundtable on Engineering Entrepreneurship Education; MedShare International, a not-for-profit venture; Georgia Tech Technology Ventures; and Georgia Tech's Economic Development Institute. In addition, she is participating as an organizer and director of a community bank, Midtown Bank and Trust.
"Terry was the right person at the right time for the College of Management," said Larry Huang, chair of the College's Advisory Board. "She has left Management in better shape than when she arrived as Dean, and we certainly hope to be able to say that about her successor. I've truly enjoyed working with Terry to shape the strategic future of this outstanding College. Georgia Tech has a unique opportunity to make this program one of the finest among all public universities. Terry played a critical role in getting us to where we stand today."
Georgia Tech College of Management
The College of Management, the business school at Georgia Tech, prepares business leaders for changing technological environments through disciplinary and interdisciplinary educational programs for undergraduates, MBA students, PhD students, and executive audiences.
