Preparing for Tomorrow: Fernando Jimenez Talks New Role, Priorities at Hunt Business
Fernando R. Jiménez, Ph.D., is entering his second term as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at UTEP’s Woody L. Hunt College of Business.
Below, he talks about the evolving landscape of higher education, the college’s initiatives, and his goals for the upcoming academic year.
How have your responsibilities and priorities evolved in your second term as Associate Dean, especially with the changing dynamics in higher education?
Education is constantly evolving, and the college has introduced new programs and teaching methods. Among these are the newly launched online BBA and MBA programs. The college has also created a new Corporate Academy in banking.
In addition, a new challenge is the inclusion of AI applications in business courses.
Reflecting on the last two years, what initiatives or projects are you most proud of having implemented or expanded?
Over the past two years, I served as a faculty member in the Marketing, Management and Supply Chain Department. During this time, I published several papers in collaboration with my colleagues and had the honor of co-chairing the Academy of Marketing Science conference, the second-largest marketing conference in the world. It’s an honor to represent our college and University in these settings.
What are your goals for the academic year?
My primary goal is to ensure that our undergraduate and MBA students are equipped with the competencies required for success in the modern business world.
Additionally, I am focused on preparing the assurance of learning portfolio for the upcoming SACSCOC and AACSB accreditations. Only 5 percent of business schools worldwide are AACSB accredited. This prestigious designation increases the market value of our graduates and recognizes our faculty and staff's commitment to delivering world-class research and teaching.