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; . -. :L ■i•, 1 1 ea ve s the facuIty of management better than how he foltld itO'S'MEnALD PHOTO BY SCOTT SAIXA1 CMAli Dastmalchian, in his soon-io-be-former office, says he:s giad to have had the chance to effect some positive changes ai the University of Lethbridge during his five years as dean of the faculty of managementr came, he saw, he conquered.Well, conquered might he Jon strung a word fur what Ali Dast-malehian did in his term as dean of the faculty of management at I he University uf l.elhbridge. Bin there's no denying die U ul Ls business school has grown arid become a national leader under Dastmal eh inn's watch.nasimalcbkin is quick to deflect [uuisc fur the Qonftsuccess, however. *I think (leans have a SJIfC J11 fmllt;* to provide an §* lt;. ®a*{nB Ienvironment where people can do their host/' he says. “I think I’ve been good at creating an envimnuiejii where people have excelled/4And excel they have. In the Iasi five years, the I acuity has grown to ILdOO Modems from just KOO and expanded to include a masters of science degree. Satellite campuses in Calgary and r.dmnniun boast about 150 smdents each. Overall, the U of I has the largest undergrad business program in Alberta.The faculty has also embraced an international vision with its international program. More than 70 U oi l. manngrneni students are cm really working and learning in seven countries around the world.Dastmalchian can relate to that philosophy: lie's an international man of managementHnuinSuiflhimself. Born and raised in Iran, he earned and economics degree and worked for a couple of companies before deciding to continue in academics, lie look his masters and doctorate in the United Kingdom, then moved to Omadn in 19111,My focus has always been international,’1 lie says. I think people who look at things globally see how there are different ways ofI think deans have a role to provide an environment wherepeople can do their best.”- Ali Dasiinakhiandoing things. Thai philosophy goes lo I he school, too; you cau l have people Irving lo be managers withuui Knowing wlim's going on in the world.Tven after landing here, Dastmalchian couldn't si I si ill for lung. I le taught at the Universities of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Victoria before corning to Lethbridge.Daslmulchiau may ihirik globally bul he lias definitely acted locally, forging a link between the faculty and the southern Alberta business cnnmiunily. The school offers training fur working managers and businesspeople; at the same lime, local executives offer I heir expcilise lo I he faculty through themanagement advisory council.Without their help and support I don't think we could have achieved whal we have achieved. They’ve clone a tremendous aitiounL of work together'/’Dastmalchian says he especially wants to thank the members of the faculty s mentorship program, who spend hours each week helping students, and businesses dial have hired co-op students.“Every single one of them, I w mil to take my hat of lo them. They really invested tremendous amounts nf time and willingness;'And doi i’l furgeL the students. Dastmalchian points out they’ve racked up plenty of achievements uvei the past few years, oftenoutpacing counterparts from much largerschools.Our students make us look good/’ he says with a laugh.Bul all good things must end, and Dastmalchian is packing his bags for the University of Victoria lo take over as dean of business. The opportunity ro fake on the new position at UVic was one he couldn’t pass up, he savs.“I helped build the business school there [as director of the masters of business program) and it's sort of like going home, I suppose.”While lie’s leaving for the garden dry, Dastmalchian says he’ll miss southern Alberta in general and the IJ of L in particular.Every moment of the last five years. I’ve enjoyed.”Deanforgedties withlocalbusinesslohn Usher will find some very big shoes waiting for him in his new office at the University of Lethbridge.The incoming dean of management will be taking the reins from Ali Dastmalchian, who not only led the faculty into major expansion but also solidified its relationship with the southern Alberta business community.The degree of interaction between the community and the faculty of management is incredibly high,” says Bill Whitelaw, publisher uf the Lethbridge Herald and a member of the management advisory council. “Ali pulled the advisory committee much closer to the faculty - -he made sure it wasn’t just a token committee.”Thai relationship works both ways, says Whitelaw. The school benefits from the wisdom of local businesspeople and executives benefit from some of the professional development available from the school.The Theory Into Practice program is another boon to business; students do professional-level consulting work for local businesses in return for a greatly reduced fee.Whitelaw says he always felt valued as an advisor and he credits Dastmalchian with much of that.I could see my work and input reflected/'Dastmalchian’s soon-to-be-former boss says he's alsu sud to see him go. U of L president Bill Cade credits him with taking the faculty to new heights.“The faculty has made remarkable growth in the last few years/’ says Cade. “I was a big step forward for the faculty to have {Dastmalchian) here/'The growth has been a maturation process, says Cade. For example, the faculty has gone hum a bachelor degree program to offering a masters of science degree and doing research, in addition to almost tripling die number of students.Perhaps most importantly, says Cade, Dastmalchian guided the faculty through creating a mission statement, something U hadn’t had before.'‘Unfortunately, it's a sad fact that good people often are often in high demand,” says Cade. We’re fortunate to have had him.”Usher takes over as the new dean of the faculty of managemen t July 1.
Newspaper Details
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge, Alberta, CA
Mon, May 13, 2002
Page 1
Full Page
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USA 04 Nov 2019
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