Dr. Alberto Dávila of Edinburg, Texas, professor of economics and lead associate dean for administration, graduate studies and research with the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), has been named dean of the Donald L. Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University and will begin his new role June 1, 2018.
Dávila said he was attracted to the Harrison College of Business dean position at Southeast because of the University’s strong focus on student success and its close-knit community.
“My top priority will be to recruit and retain — via a high-quality education and overall learning experience — students who will graduate in a timely fashion with the skills to achieve impactful and productive lives.”
Specific priorities, he said, will focus on promoting economic education and financial literacy by establishing strong partnerships with local and regional organizations. Promoting programs that focus on interrelationships between the College of Business and STEM fields also will be a priority, as will continued development of international programs where the University can recruit students and offer Southeast students more international experiences. Researching relevant academic programs to meet labor market demands also will be essential, he said.
Dávila’s role as an academic administrator has spanned 20 years. In his current position, he oversees Graduate Studies, Research and Administration, fostering a culture of encouraging research experiences for faculty, doctoral and graduate students. He also has supported experiential learning opportunities for students, including internships with community-based organizations throughout the country and through international student exchange programs in Spain and Germany.
Prior to his administrative appointment, he was chair of the Department of Economics and Finance at UTRGV, formerly The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA). During that time, he was a key member of the leadership team in the College that navigated the merger of UTPA with UTRGV. He also served as Professor of Economics and V.F. “Doc” and Gertrude M. Neuhaus Chair for Entrepreneurship at UTRGV. At UTPA, he served on and formerly chaired the executive committee of the Council of Chairs as well as chaired the Graduate Council.
He previously was an assistant professor of economics and an associate professor of economics at the University of New Mexico.
Dávila holds a doctoral degree in economics from Iowa State University, and his work has been published in a number of scholarly journals.
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Southeast Missouri State University News