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Concordia University Irvine Names New Dean of The School of Business and Economics

Concordia University Irvine Names New Dean of The School of Business and Economics
Dean George Wright

Dean George Wright

IRVINE, CA (January 14, 2020)—Concordia University Irvine (CUI) has named George W. Wright of Brea as the Dean of its School of Business and Economics. Wright has been serving in various leadership roles, most recently as Administrative Dean, at the School since 2008.

In his new role, Dean George Wright will oversee academic policy and curriculum for graduate and undergraduate degree programs, as well as guide constituent relations. Wright’s goal is to integrate best business practices with real-world experiences from an ethical and moral perspective so that students graduate with a solid foundation to serve as impactful global leaders.

"George Wright's breadth of experience from the board room to the classroom, combined with the respect of his peers, made him the obvious choice to lead the School of Business and Economics,” said Concordia University Irvine Provost Peter Senkbeil.

Dean George Wright began his career at Concordia as the Assistant Dean of the School of Business and Economics. The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) serves in a variety of senior leadership boards and committees at the University. Prior to entering higher education, Wright held leadership positions in strategic planning, accounting, and information technology in the global mining industry for more than 30 years with companies such as U.S. Borax Inc./Rio Tinto. Wright earned his graduate degrees, a Master of Science in Accountancy, and an MBA in Finance from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) after earning his Bachelor of Arts in Economics also from CSUF. Wright’s work in costing, accounting information systems, and international accounting standards has also been published.

Recently, the School underwent a name change. Established as the School of Business in 2002, its new name—The School of Business and Economics—better describes the School’s broad-based mission to integrate its theoretical and practical foundation with Liberal Arts education research, applied professional studies, and real-world experiential learning.  

The School of Business and Economics is home to the largest undergraduate program at Concordia Irvine. Its Bachelor of Arts degree program in Business Administration, which offers emphases in accounting, business data analytics, business economics, finance, health management, international business, management, marketing, and sport management, along with its Master of Business Administration (MBA) program which focuses on business practice with flexibility for working professionals are fully accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).  The online Business and Leadership (BAL) Bachelor of Arts degree program is designed to accelerate degree completion for adults. Faculty include academically qualified educators who are also entrepreneurs and executives in various industries. The School of Business and Economics is home to the Center for Faith and Business, the Faith & Business Forum, the Business Insights Series, the Teen Entrepreneurship Academy, and the Institute for Strategic Marketing. 

About Concordia University Irvine

Concordia University Irvine (CUI) is a non-profit Lutheran Christian liberal arts four-year university that prepares students for their vocations—their calling in life. Concordia offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in education, nursing, theology, business, and athletics administration. CUI’s undergraduate program is distinctive because of its nationally recognized core curriculum, Enduring Questions & Ideas, and its Lutheran heritage that provides a thoughtful and caring Christian community that lives out the theology of "Grace Alone. Faith Alone." Concordia is a U.S. News Top Tier Regional University and has been named by The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the fastest growing private nonprofit master's institutions. The university is part of the Concordia University System, the second largest education ministry system in the United States behind the Catholic Church. The NCAA DII private university, which enrolls nearly 4,000 students annually, is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

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