After a long and rewarding career in higher education, Robert M. Harper, dean of the Craig School of Business, will be retiring on Dec. 31.

In 1990, Harper left Louisiana State University to make his mark at Fresno State. In 2018-19 he served as interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. Prior to his appointment as dean in 2008, he served for four years as associate dean and seven years as chair of the Department of Accountancy. During his term as dean, Craig School of Business has continued to provide active, engaged learning experiences for its students and has maintained its accreditation for AACSB, International. Harper's legacy is widely recognized, and includes the creation of an impressive executive classroom and the establishment of a successful Accelerated Bachelor's Degree Program. He has fostered, and continues to maintain, many important community relations, including service on the boards for the school's Institute for Family Business and the Gazarian Real Estate Center.

Harper received a B.S. in mathematics, an MBA, and a DBA, all from Florida State University. Harper is a recognized authority in accountancy. He is a co-author of three editions of Intermediate Accounting published first by West Publishing Company and then by South-Western College Publishing. Harper has also published numerous articles in such journals as Journal of Accounting Research, Accounting Horizons, Behavioral Research in Accounting, Auditing: A Journal of Theory and Practice, Journal of Information Systems and Journal of Accounting Education and has made multiple presentations at academic conferences.

A reception to honor Harper and recognize his many accomplishments will be held on Jan. 15.

In consultation with Harper, the CSB Chairs and the Senate's Executive Committee, Dr. Julie Olson-Buchanan was appointed as interim dean of the Craig School. Olson-Buchanan came to Fresno State in 1992 from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow in industrial-organizational psychology. She was the founding director of the Craig Honors Program and served as its director for seven years. She also served as chair of the Department of Management for 10 years. In 2008, Olson-Buchanan received the University's highest honor awarded to a faculty member — the Provost's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Most recently, she has been serving as the interim associate dean alongside Harper, having served in the same role at the Kremen School of Education and Human Development last year.

An internationally renowned scholar, Olson-Buchanan's research focuses on conflict/mistreatment in organizations, technology-based selection and work-life balance. Olson-Buchanan earned the distinction of fellow status in both the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and the American Psychological Association for her work in the field, a distinction that is awarded to fewer than 3% of scholars in this field.

Olson-Buchanan currently serves as the main United Nations representative and chair for SIOP. In addition, she is chair of the board of directors of Central California Food Bank and has been on the board for 10 years. She was recognized for her professional contributions as a Top 10 Professional Woman by Marjaree Mason Center in 2011.

Interim dean Dr. Julie Olson-Buchanan