University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
The Messenger
Vol. 5, No. 4/1996
Dana J. Johnson is first woman to lead UD's B&E college

     Dana J. Johnson, dean of the Wayne Calloway School of
Business and Accountancy at Wake Forest University since 1992,
became the first woman dean of the UD's College of Business and
Economics in July.
     She replaces Kenneth R. Biederman, dean since 1990, who will
return to classroom teaching after a sabbatical leave. Johnson
was selected after a nationwide search that included 130
applications and nominations.
     Stuart L. Cooper, H. Rodney Sharp Professor of Chemical
Engineering and dean of the College of Engineering, who chaired
the search, said members of his committee were "impressed by Dr.
Johnson's demonstrated skills as a business school dean and in
fund-raising, as well as her firm grasp of the importance of
computer literacy for students seeking future careers in
business."
     At Wake Forest, Johnson was instrumental in the business
school being named for Calloway, who is chairman of PepsiCo's
board of directors and a Wake Forest alumnus. In U.S. News &
World Report's most recent rankings, the Calloway School is
ranked the 25th best undergraduate business program in the
country.
     Also during her tenure, Johnson conducted a sweeping study
of the business school's faculty, students, alumni,
administration, corporate recruiters and others to determine its
strengths, weaknesses and opportunities, using the results to
chart its future.
     According to Wake Forest Provost David G. Brown, Johnson
maintained a "focus upon the student and the student's needs
while insisting upon the highest academic standards."
     At the same time, he said, she preserved "a sense of family
and community within the faculty."
     Before joining Wake Forest, Johnson was a professor of
finance at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,
where she also directed the master's program in business
administration. During the 1991-92 academic year, she was a
visiting professor of business administration at the University
of Virginia's Darden Graduate School of Business.
     Johnson received her bachelor's degree in business
administration, her master's degree in economics and her
doctorate in business administration, with a finance major and
economics minor, all from Kent State University.
     Her research interests range from insider trading and
primary equity offerings to management buyouts and antitakeover
amendments.
     She is the author of two textbooks, Key Concepts and
Problems in Finance: A Study Guide to Accompany Maurice Joy's
Introduction to Financial Management and Study Guide and
Instructor's Manual to Accompany C.F. Lee and J. Finnerty's
Corporate Finance.
     A well-loved teacher, she was the recipient of many teaching
awards while at Virginia Tech, including an MBA teaching
excellence award in 1985; the University Certificate of Teaching
Excellence, the College of Business Teaching Award and the
Department of Finance Teaching Award in 1990; and the Financial
Management Association student chapter's Outstanding Professor
Award in 1991.
     Johnson also has designed and presented numerous business
seminars on topics that range from capital markets and corporate
finance to financial analysis and problem solving.
     During Biederman's tenure as dean, the college has begun
construction of a new business and economics building-MBNA
America Hall-and renovation of its existing home, Purnell Hall;
expanded its on-campus MBA program; initiated an Executive MBA
Program as well as on-site MBA programs at the DuPont Co. and
MBNA; began a Ph.D. program in economics; secured funding from
area financial institutions for establishment of the FORTUNE 2000
Program to assist minority students; established a dean's
undergraduate scholarship fund and honors programs in all
undergraduate majors; adopted and implemented a strategic plan
for the college; established four named professorships; increased
the role of the college's alumni board and associations; and
established a college Visiting Committee of top corporate
leaders.
                                              -Beth Thomas