Providing Guidance and Direction
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Laura Dunham has been named the next dean of Opus College of Business. One of the nation’s foremost ethics experts, she has spent the last 19 years of her career at St. Thomas and served as associate dean of Opus’ Schulze School of Entrepreneurship for the last five. As dean, she will continue to build on Opus’ foundation of excellence. Congratulations, Dean Laura Dunham!
Dean and Opus Distinguished Chair
Dean Lenway began her tenure at the Opus College of Business in 2014. Lenway is recognized as an expert in the field of international trade policy, multinational competitive strategy, and global technology innovation, and she has more than 30 years of experience as a scholar and teacher, in addition to academic leadership roles. Under Lenway’s leadership, the college renewed its strategic focus on principled leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the business of health care. The Opus College is now embarking upon a new initiative to engage faculty, staff, and students in activities that promote business for the Common Good.
The leadership team at the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas is committed to advancing the mission of the college – to develop effective, principled business leaders who think globally, act ethically and create enduring value for society.
This diverse team of deans, faculty chairs and advisory board members work together to set effective strategies and build a culture that inspires excellence and innovation among our students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
Senior Associate Dean
Michael J. Garrison is the Senior Associate Dean in the Opus College of Business. He is responsible for AACSB accreditation, faculty development, research initiatives, and the quality and integrity of the college’s academic programs, including assessment of student learning. He joined the college in 2005 as a professor of business law and served as the chair of the Department of Ethics and Business Law from 2007-09.
Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Accelerated Master’s Programs
Nakeisha Lewis is responsible for the academic leadership of the undergraduate business and accelerated master’s programs, as well as the GHR Fellows and the Schulze Innovation Scholars programs. She came to St. Thomas in 2009 from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she was a visiting professor of Marketing. She was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor in 2015 and most recently has served as Chair of the Marketing Department.
Associate Dean, Graduate Programs
Pat Hedberg oversees the operational and academic aspects of graduate degree programs, including MBA programs, specialized master’s programs, and graduate degree certificates. Pat joined St. Thomas in 1991, was tenured in 1997 and then promoted to Associate Professor in 1998. She actively consults with local organizations on leadership development, change management and team collaboration. Pat received her B.A. in Psychology and Sociology and her Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Minnesota.
Associate Dean, Schulze School of Entrepreneurship
Laura Dunham drives entrepreneurship and innovation education at the Opus College in her role as Associate Dean of the Schulze School. She works with a team of faculty and staff to deliver curricular and co-curricular experiences to St. Thomas students to develop their innovative mindset. She joined St. Thomas in 2003 from the University of Virginia, where she earned her Ph.D. and M.B.A. from the Darden School of Business.
COO/CFO, Boulay
Finance Executive (retired)
Founder and Attorney, TJA Business Law
Vice President and General Manager, Electronics Materials Solutions Division, 3M
Marketing Executive (retired)
President and CEO, Argent International
Digital Product Management Executive
CEO and Managing Partner, IQ Strategic Partners
Chief Operating Officer, Inspire Medical Systems
Retail Consultant, Executive Fellow and Adjunct Professor, Opus College of Business
Private Equity and Strategy Consultant
Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
President and CEO, Allianz Life
Senior Vice President of Human Capital, United Health Group
Vice President of Project Management, Boston Scientific
Vice President, Carlson Partners
Tax Executive (retired)
Vice President of Commercial Strategy & Policy, Thomson Reuters
Vice President of Healthcare, RGP
Vice President of Product Development, Medtronic
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Transportation and Electronics Business Group, 3M
Board Member and Former CEO
Proprietor and Coach, Your Success Partner
Vice President and General Manager, Opus Development Company, LLC
CIO, Verily Life Sciences, An Alphabet Company
President and CEO, Allina Health
Corporate Vice President, Edwards Lifesciences