Dr. Liz Wilson retires as Dean of GSW College of Business and Computing after 30 years of dedication

Liz Wilson, Ph.D., dean of Georgia Southwestern State University’s (GSW) College of Business and Computing, formerly the School of Business, has retired effective June 30, 2020 after serving GSW for 30 years.

“You hope as a teacher that you’ve made an impact on people, and you hope as a dean that you’ve had a positive influence on your team of employees,” said Wilson. “I am so proud of our team who has melded together into an incredibly productive, engaged group of colleagues who share a vision of innovation and involvement as a means to enhance the student experience and their individual success.”

During her tenure, Wilson shepherded GSW’s small online program into one of the most outstanding online programs in the nation; spearheaded the adoption of GSW’s BBA degree into the University System of Georgia’s (USG) eMajor program; led the school through two successful reaccreditations of the prestigious AACSB International accreditation; and expanded Human Resource Management from a concentration with four classes to a full-fledged undergraduate degree program, the only one of its kind in the USG.

“Liz has shown great leadership dedication to our business programs for over 30 years,” said GSW President Neal Weaver, Ph.D. “Her knowledge and experience will be greatly missed, and I wish her the best in her retirement.”

Wilson joined the faculty in 1990 as an assistant professor of business with a specialty in human resource management, and served as dean since 2010. She completed her Ph.D. in Administration/Health Services at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Wilson previously worked as the executive director of the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center, a human resource director at a rehabilitation facility in Birmingham, and as a unit director at a state hospital in Alabama.

“As far as a faculty member and an administrator, I am proud of the connections I have made with students, staff and faculty,” Wilson reflected. “I love helping people grow into the greatness I see in them – even when they don’t yet see it in themselves. I have made deep friendships here and feel like this is my second family. I love the community, and especially GSW.”

GSW faculty and staff held a virtual retirement celebration and a socially distanced drive-by parade for Wilson on June 3. “It was very humbling to hear the kind words they were all saying,” she said. “It was a virtual retirement party, but I don’t know that an in-person one could’ve been any better.”

Wilson plans to continue advising and teaching in the Human Resources program part-time and hopes to volunteer on campus whenever possible. “I hope to get Dave, my therapy dog, involved in campus activities whenever we can,” she said. “And I look forward to picking back up my photography hobby.”

Gaynor Cheokas, Ph.D., will serve as interim dean for the next academic year.