OXFORD, Miss. – Ken Cyree has been appointed interim dean of the School of
Business Administration at the University of Mississippi effective Jan. 2. Dean
Brian Reithel, who has held the post since 2003, is stepping down to return to
full-time teaching and research.
A member of the Ole Miss faculty since 2004, Cyree is an associate professor
of finance and the Frank R. Day/Mississippi Bankers Association Chair of
Banking.
Cyree was highly recommended by his colleagues in the business school, said
Provost Carolyn Staton.
“He is a dedicated teacher and scholar and has deservedly earned the respect
of the faculty and students,” she said. “In addition, as the Chair of Banking,
he brings experience in working with external constituencies, which is an
important rule for the school. I am pleased that he is willing to assume these
duties and that the faculty is fully supportive of him.”
“I am honored and humbled to be chosen as interim dean,” Cyree said. “I will
do my best to continue the success we have had and to gain support for students
and faculty.”
Although he plans to return to the faculty when a permanent dean is
appointed, Cyree said he intends to be proactive during the interim period and
help the faculty continue to provide quality teaching and scholarship.
“We have some wonderful faculty members in the School of Business, and I look
forward to working with them to achieve our goals of educating students,
providing meaningful research in our disciplines and positively impacting the
business environment in the state and region,” he said. “We will need the help
of business leaders and alumni to achieve our goals, and I look forward to
working with them as well.”
Cyree’s teaching focuses on financial institutions and markets and corporate
finance. He is faculty adviser for the Financier’s Club and the campus chapter
of Beta Upsilon Chi. Chosen as the business school’s Teacher of the Year in
2007, he is president of the Southern Finance Association and has been a speaker
at the Mississippi Bankers Convention for several years.
A native of Dalton, Ga., Cyree received his doctoral and master’s degrees
from the University of Tennessee and his bachelor’s degree from West Georgia
College. He came to UM from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where he was
assistant professor of finance.
For more information about the School of Business Administration, visit