LSU has named Russell Crook the dean of the E. J. Ourso College of Business, effective July 28, pending approval by the LSU Board of Supervisors. A distinguished scholar and proven leader, Dr. Crook brings over two decades of experience in higher education and business to the role.

Crook currently serves as the Head of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, First Horizon Foundation Distinguished Business Professor, and Cheryl Massingale Business Faculty Scholar at the University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business. While serving in his current role, the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship has reached new heights in faculty research output, industry partnerships, and student success.

“Please join me in welcoming Dr. Crook to lead LSU’s E.J. Ourso College of Business, where he will direct a college central to every facet of our Pentagon priorities,” said LSU President William F. Tate IV.  “Analytics, economics, marketing, management, trade and finance, and all the other focal points of the college drive our state’s and nation’s need for stronger agriculture, biomedical, coastal, defense, and energy research and industries. We look forward to seeing his impact on our community.”

Crook holds a Ph.D. in Strategic Management and an undergraduate degree in Economics from Florida State University, as well as an MBA from American University. Before joining the University of Tennessee Haslam College of Business in 2007, Crook began his career as a faculty member in 2005 at the Franke College of Business at Northern Arizona University. Crook's research focuses on topics at the intersection of strategic management and entrepreneurship, and what helps organizations improve their performance. He has published over 40 articles on strategy and entrepreneurship topics, which have been cited more than 10,000 times.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Crook,” said LSU Executive Vice President & Provost Roy Haggerty. “His leadership skills, scholarly expertise, and industry experience make him the ideal candidate to lead LSU’s distinguished E. J. Ourso College of Business.”

When Crook became Head of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, he launched a strategic planning process which resulted in curriculum revisions, including the addition of new courses in technology commercialization, sustainability, project management, and leadership. Since then, the department has experienced a 40% increase in majors and a double-digit increase in student starting salaries. In addition, Crook launched one of the college's leading student success programs called "TakeOff," which provides targeted guidance to first-generation students as they transition to college.

“I am thrilled to join the E. J. Ourso College of Business and work alongside its outstanding students, alumni, faculty, and staff,” said Dr. Russell Crook. “Together, we will not only elevate the college to new heights in student success and thought leadership, but also enhance its role as a catalyst for economic growth and opportunity across the state of Louisiana.”

Crook has received numerous awards, including the University of Tennessee’s Hesler Award for Teaching and Service, the Haslam College of Business Martin & Carol Robinson Excellence in Teaching, Research, and Service Award, and the Bank of America Faculty Leadership Award. Crook is a Fellow and a former President of the Southern Management Association, an organization that focuses on professional development, high-impact scholarship and teaching, and engaging programs for over 500 faculty and Ph.D. students.  Before earning his Ph.D., Crook worked for American Airlines, US Airways, and IBM in a variety of capacities, including strategic planning and global procurement.