The final candidates to be considered for Dean of the Hagan School of Business shared presentations during the last weeks of January. The presentations gave background on the candidates, visions for the future of the college and allowed students, faculty and administration to interact with the candidates.

Dr. Marianne Ward-Peradoza from Loyola University in Maryland presented on Jan. 19, Dr. Terri Herron of the University of Montana presented on Jan. 26 and Dr. Linda Sama of St. John’s University presented on Jan. 27.

The new dean would replace Dr. Charles Cante, current interim dean of the business school.

No guidelines or topics were given for the presentations, according to Dr. Vincent Calluzzo, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.

“Let’s see what they think is important,” Calluzzo said to explain why they were not given guidelines. “I don’t want to tell you what I think is important – let’s see what comes from the heart. I think it’s important to hear fresh ideas.”

Calluzzo, dean of the business school from 2005 to 2015, said that the school expects to have the new dean chosen by July 1.

“We’re looking for a new, official Dean who will be leading the school of business into a really exciting future,” Calluzzo said. “We’re looking for a dynamic leader.”

Ward-Peradoza is currently the associate dean for academics at the Sellinger School of Business and Management at Loyola Maryland. She also is an associate professor of economics at the university.

She also does research in the economics field. According to her resume, there are three components to her research; “macroeconomics, economic development and economic history.”

Herron, who worked as the associate dean at the University of Montana, focused her presentation on her resume, why she wanted to work at Iona and working toward heightened recognition among business schools. With 25 years at the University of Montana and experience as an audit manager, Herron outlined the positions she held in the business sphere.

She said that Iona drew her attention because of its emphasis on service. Herron also discussed a four-year program she helped to run at the University of Montana which made students research a global issue in their four years. The program included special classes, a study abroad semester and a service portion. She did not mention instituting something similar at Iona.

One of Herron’s goals was to create more partnerships for the business school, with both companies and doctorate programs.

Sama is the current associate dean for global initiatives and Joseph F. Adams professor of management at the Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s. She also founded the GLOBE (Global Loan Opportunities for Budding Entrepreneurs) program at St. John’s in 2009.

Sama, through her presentation titled “Visioning the Future,” said that the vision for the future is our vision, not solely hers. She also said that it’s important to stay true to Iona’s mission in anything we do together. Sama’s goals as dean included working together with the Arts and Science school and continuing to be student centered.

“The search committee did an outstanding job of bringing three excellent candidates to campus,” Dr. Eric Hamerman, assistant professor of marketing, said. “I really enjoyed meeting all three of them and hearing their respective visions for the business school.”

Hamerman said that he looks forward to working with the new dean in the new building.

“Whoever is offered the position will be taking over during an exciting time to be at Iona,” Hamerman said. “We have a strong infrastructure that was put in place by Dean Cante and Provost Calluzzo, and I look forward to the new dean continuing to move us forward as we begin construction on the new building.”

“There are some great things coming up,” Calluzzo said. “It’s a really great time to be at Iona.”