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School of Business > UPDATE > Spring 2002 > Message from the Dean From the Incoming Dean I am delighted to have the opportunity to be the next dean of the School of Business. Although I don't officially begin until July 1, I am familiarizing myself with the people and programs of our school and the university. In my first UPDATE letter, I think it is important to explain to you why I wanted this professional opportunity. I hope it will shed some light on my values relevant to this job. Two important decisions were taken on the path that led me to accept this position: the decision to become a dean and the decision to move to Wisconsin. My steps toward becoming a dean began at Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business, where I worked as a faculty member in a supportive environment for research and teaching. I doubt that anyone enjoyed academic life-the research, the application to policy and the classroom environment-more than I did. But over time, my energy gradually shifted toward management of the institution, most recently as associate dean of the MBA program. I found this work enjoyable and the opportunities for impact to be even greater. Committed and creative academic leadership can increase efficiency, boost morale and improve the welfare of many faculty, staff and students. These are my goals as a dean. The decision to become a dean at Wisconsin was a bit easier. Two things about an organization are critically important to me: culture and trajectory. At Tuck, I found distinguishing cultural characteristics to be intimacy, sincerity and loyalty. It was clear that these characteristics are prominent at Wisconsin, and I hope to strengthen them. It was also clear that the School of Business has been on an upward path under Dean Andrew J. Policano. Growth in size and scope of facilities, programs, research centers and our endowment has given the School of Business all the elements of a world-class business school. He will be a tough act to follow. I hope to continue and augment that upward trajectory. Each year I would like our academic programs to improve. Each new faculty appointment should be better than the last one. Each class should be stronger. And let's not stop there... the dean who succeeds me should be more accomplished than I am! Committing to standards for continuous improvement sounds simple enough, but it is a challenge requiring a total team effort by all our constituencies-students, faculty, staff and alumni. Team efforts are more difficult to achieve, but more rewarding in the end. Climbing the mountain is fun, but doing it with people you enjoy is even better. Even though the past decade of the School of Business has been marked by great progress, complacency has not developed among faculty, staff, students or alumni. The belief that people at the School of Business are hungry for even greater success was critical to my choice to accept this position. The final ingredient in the decision to come to UW-Madison was the most important one. My family-wife Karen, and daughters Maxine (5) and Lillian (1)-and I are truly excited by the prospect of living in Madison and being a part of the school and the university. Lillian is only able to communicate that excitement by pressing a button on a stuffed Bucky Badger that fires up a version of "On, Wisconsin." She presses it often. Wisconsin is also "home" for me in a very real sense. I am a Wisconsin native and graduate of UW-Eau Claire. Karen and I have many family members and friends in the area and we look forward to having many more (well, friends at least). In the months ahead, I look forward to learning more about the challenges and opportunities facing the School of Business and meeting the many alumni around the country and around the world who play such a large role in its success. 
Michael M. Knetter
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