Lee Perry named Dean of BYU’s Marriott School of Management

PROVO, Utah – Jul 08, 2013 – Brigham Young University Academic Vice President Brent Webb announced the appointment of Lee Perry as the dean of the Marriott School of Management.

Perry, the Sorensen Family Professor of Organizational Leadership and Strategy, has been serving as the associate dean of the Marriott School since 2012. He succeeded Gary Cornia on July 1.

“Dr. Perry’s experiences have prepared him well for this new responsibility, and he has the full confidence of the BYU administration,” Webb says. “He received strong support from the faculty and an energetic endorsement from the search committee.”

Perry served as the associate dean over both graduate and undergraduate programs at the Marriott School from 1998 to 2005 prior to his call as president of the California Roseville Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He holds a doctorate in administration sciences from Yale University and has 30 years of experience as a professor, consultant, administrator, entrepreneur and corporate board member.

“Lee is a natural teacher with a great mind for strategy,” Cornia says. “I’m confident he will have a significant and very positive impact on the future of the Marriott School.”

Three other Marriott School faculty members — Michael Thompson, Steve Glover and Keith Vorkink — were appointed as associate deans. Thompson, who served as associate dean from 2005 to the present will continue in this role, while Glover, who served as chair of the BYU School of Accountancy since 2012, and Vorkink, a professor of finance, will begin their service immediately. Jim Stice, who served as associate dean for the past five years, will return to teaching accounting full time for the Marriott School.

During Cornia’s tenure the Marriott School was ranked No. 5 in Bloomberg Businessweek’s Best Undergraduate Business Schools. The school’s students and faculty also earned many accolades under his leadership.

“We are deeply grateful to Dean Cornia who has exercised vision and high standards in his service,” Webb says.

One of Cornia’s primary initiatives was to enhance the school’s placement efforts. He also oversaw the addition of new programs including the finance major and strategy minor. In addition, he increased the size and strength of the school’s National Advisory Council.

“I think it is important coming in to this position to understand that you stand on the shoulders of many great men,” Perry says. “I am especially grateful to Ned Hill and Gary Cornia for their example, friendship and everything they taught me.”

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, public management, information systems, and entrepreneurship. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.