The chance to lead one of the nation’s most venerable business schools and drive it to even greater heights is what attracted Mitzi Montoya to Oregon State, the College of Business’ first-year chief executive told the audience Tuesday at a “Meet the Dean” event organized by Management Practicum students.
The 90-minute gathering began with opening remarks by Montoya inside Austin Hall’s Stirek Auditorium, continued with a question-and-answer session, and concluded with a reception in the Masterson Family Marketplace.
An alumni base that’s more than a century in the making is an enormous strength for the College of Business, Montoya said, as is the college’s reputation for producing hard-working, profession-ready graduates equipped to become leaders in an economy that’s increasingly data driven and innovation oriented.
She also asked forgiveness if anyone ever sees her wearing green, explaining green is the school color of Michigan State University, from which she earned both a bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D. Montoya noted that like Oregon State, Michigan State is situated in a college town (East Lansing) and that she’s pleased to be living in such a place again.
After the Q-and-A session, the dean mingled with students in the marketplace, posing for photos with a number of them.
