Dearth picked as interim dean for College of Business

Dr. Steve Scott, Pittsburg State University vice president for Academic Affairs, announced today the appointment of Dr. Richard Dearth as interim dean of the Kelce College of Business at PSU. Dearth follows Dr. Russ Hardin, who is leaving PSU at the end of the academic year to become chairman of the Accounting Department at the University of South Alabama in Mobile.

Dearth is currently chairman of the Department of Management and Marketing. He has taught Introduction to Business, Business Law, The Legal and Social Environment of Business and Business, Government and Society at Pittsburg State University since 1992.

“Dr. Dearth has demonstrated strong and insightful leadership in his tenure as the chairperson of the Department of Management and Marketing,” Scott said. “He is skilled at finding common ground and honoring the processes of higher education, and he applies those skills to encourage and achieve continuous improvement.

“Dr. Dearth quickly earned the respect of his colleagues in Kelce as a person who is professional, knowledgeable of current business practices, and committed to Pittsburg State University,” Scott added. “He has worked closely with our current dean, Dr. Russ Hardin, in matters related to the accreditation of the business college programs. His knowledge in this area and the leadership he has already provided will serve him and the college well in the coming months. Under Dr. Dearth's leadership, we are looking forward to a successful accreditation visit in the fall of 2008.”

Dearth earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Kansas and a juris doctor from Washburn University of Topeka.

Dearth practiced law for 35 years and although he closed his practice and devotes his full time to teaching and administration at Pittsburg State University, he is currently admitted to practice by the Kansas Supreme Court, United States District Court, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit. He continues to be a fellow of the Kansas Bar Foundation and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. For a period of time, Dearth acted as the director of law and the assistant city manager for Parsons. He advised a number of governmental organizations during his practice. While in Parsons, Dearth was active in a community service projects.

Dearth was the Sam Walton Fellow for PSU Students in Free Enterprise for 2003-2004 and continues to be actively involved as a member of the Board Business advisors for PSU SIFE. He was instrumental in chartering Beta Gamma Sigma, a business honor society and acted as the faculty adviser for three years. Dearth is the AACSB international coordinator for the College of Business. He served on many college and university committees during his time at PSU.

---Pitt State---