Board of Education

When Christopher Puto became dean of University of St. Thomas’s Opus College of Business in 2002, one of his first actions was to create the Strategic Board of Governors, an advisory panel to guide him in a multitude of decisions. Staffed with business executives and   entrepreneurs, the board has helped Puto create the college’s full-time MBA program, weave business ethics more deeply into its curricula, and determine whether to pursue accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International.

The board is a sounding board for Puto to make sure the college meets the needs of all of St. Thomas’s constituents: students, faculty, the business community, and the state of Minnesota. “I get the benefit of some of the finest strategic minds in corporate and industrial America, and they get to have an impact on how we’re delivering future education, so it’s a mutually beneficial opportunity,” he says.

Philip Goldman, senior vice president of Encore One, LLC, a subsidiary of Minnetonka-based Opus Corporation that invests in middle-market companies, says that it’s important for St. Thomas to educate business students in critical thinking as well as practical skills such as marketing and finance. “It’s really about helping the school become more competitive locally while also helping our students be more competitive potential employees,” says Goldman, who joined the 15-member board last year. “Dean Puto has laid out a strategic vision and plan for the college. Our role on the board is to maintain the freshness of his vision and help the dean implement these plans while making sure the resources that have been provided are used effectively and efficiently.”

Outside Advocates

St. Thomas’s board of governors is far from unique. Most business-school deans call on a mix of alumni and public- and private-sector leaders to act as counselors, innovators, fundraisers, and cheerleaders for their programs. At the same time, board members serve as the voice of employers, making sure that business schools produce graduates who meet the needs of their organizations.

Advisors are not paid, and the schools generally appoint them for three-year terms. Many serve multiple terms. Deans seek business leaders from across the country for their boards. This creates a broader pool of advocates for the school while opening more doors for students.