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Willamette MBA dean resigns one month into new job

Seung Ho “Sam” Park, an emerging markets researcher, spent just one month as dean of Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management (Courtesy/Willamette University)

The recently-hired dean of Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management resigned last week just one month after starting work.

Seung Ho “Sam” Park resigned on Sept. 13, university spokesman Adam Torgerson confirmed Monday. He would not elaborate on the reason for Park’s resignation, calling it a “private personnel matter.”

The university announced it had hired Park, an internationally acclaimed researcher on emerging markets, in January. He started work in August.

Provost Carol Long told Willamette staff of Park’s departure in an email last week, but didn’t say why he left abruptly.

The business school has about 130 students and offers two MBA programs. It’s listed as one of the best business schools in the U.S. by the Princeton Review.

Professor Michael Hand, who teaches applied statistics and information systems, was appointed interim dean as the university begins a new search. He has worked at Willamette since 1979, Long said in the email.

A search for a college dean typically takes about a semester, Torgerson said.

The school is undergoing an accreditation review this fall with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a process Hand has experience with.

 “We’re really fortunate that we have the very strong interim dean,” Torgerson said.