History
Winston-Salem State University
The School of Business began as a Business Department in the teacher education program in 1966. The department was established to produce business education teachers for the high school level and office administrators. Starting off on a smaller scale with four teachers; Armstead Williams, Robert Ewalt, Stephen Kwasikpui and Saeed Nizami, students learned accounting, management, and office technology.
In 1971 a major in business administration was added to the department. By 1975, four concentration areas were offered: accounting, economics, computer science, and housing management. The program grew from 258 students in 1970 to 491 students in 1978. The number of faculty grew as well from four to thirteen in 1988. Students in the business department were not only being prepared to teach business in junior high or high school, but for careers in business, industry, government, and management.
The Department of Business Administration became a Division of Business and Economics in 1982 with two departments: accounting and business administration. In 1984 the RJ Reynolds Center was completed and the Division of Business and Economics moved into its new home. In 1986, the Virginia K. Newell Academic Computing Center and The Rayford A Means Computing Laboratory were dedicated in the Reynolds Center. Additional computer laboratories have been added but are not named. Dr. Daniel Raddell was the department Chair in 1991 and business clubs thrived. The Marketing Club, Lisa Jarrett President, Accounting Society, Geraldine Rich President, and Toastmasters, Keith Richardson President were all active on campus and growing.
By 1994, the Sara Lee Distinguished Professor of Accounting had been filled. Dr. Leslie Weisenfeld continues to hold this endowed position.
Under the leadership of Dr. Everette Witherspoon, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Arthur T. King, Director of the Division of Business & Economics the Division of Business & Economics became the School of Business and Economics in the year 2000. That same year, the School was accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), an internationally recognized certification for Business Schools.
Dr. Robert Herring served as interim Dean when Dr. King retired in 2005. Dr. Jessica Bailey became Dean in 2006. The School of Business and Economics currently has 49 faculty and 900 students.
