Donald Gudmundson
Dean and Professor
Bio
Don Gudmundson became Dean of the University of Northern Colorado's Monfort College of Business in August, 2008. Since joining the college, he has been instrumental in establishing new programs and opportunities for students. These include creating and implementing the first graduate program (Master of Accounting) at the college in nearly 30 years. A new Global Business Minor for non-business students has also been introduced, requiring only 18 credits, rather than 34. A new Professional Experience requirement, launched in Fall 2011, will provide all business students the experience of an internship or an opportunity similar to an internship. His vision is to continue expanding educational opportunities and improving the quality of educational experiences at MCB. Under his direction, the MCB Global committee is developing new study abroad opportunities for students, with scholarships available for both short-term and long-term study abroad courses. Dean Gudmundson is also committed to expanding connections and partnerships within the community. To that end, the Monfort College of Business Entrepreneurial Challenge was launched in 2009. This highly successful business plan competition attracts entrepreneurs from across the Front Range of Colorado. It has included workshops, partnerships with the local Chambers of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center and awarded $36,000 in prize money in 2011. Efforts have also been made to engage MCB alumni and friends by presenting annual events like the All Star Celebration at Coors Field in Denver, and special events featuring national and regional speakers like Ben & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Resources Mike Leavitt. Prior to joining MCB, Dean Gudmundson served as Senior Associate Dean of the College of Business at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. During his 17 years there, he also served as the Director of Graduate Programs and Chair of the Management and Human Resources Department. His accomplishments included creating an executive education center for the MBA Program in downtown Green Bay. Having developed an interest in international education, he also collaborated with colleagues to develop a Global MBA in a partnership with Darmstadt University in Darmstadt, Germany and T.A. Pai Management Institute in Bangalore, India. He has taught undergraduate level courses in Strategic Management, Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management and Managing Small Growing Businesses. He's also taught graduate level courses in Organization Leadership and Change, Business Ethics, Strategic Management and International Study Tours to Japan and Europe. Many of these courses were taught in an on-line environment. His research and consulting interests include issues related to small and family businesses, strategic management, governance and business ethics.
