Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business has named three new department chairs.

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business has named three new department chairs.

Hong Yuan, Ph.D., was appointed chair for the Department of Marketing; Anita Pennathur, Ph.D., interim chair for the Department of Finance ; and Ethlyn Williams, Ph.D., chair for the Department of Management Programs.

“We are delighted to have chosen Dr. Yuan, Dr. Pennathur and Dr. Williams to lead their respective departments,” said Daniel Gropper, Ph.D., dean of FAU’s College of Business. “With their bold ideas and leadership, we look forward to seeing how they advance and grow not only their departments, but also the vision of the College of Business and the university as well.”

Yuan joined the College of Business from the University of Oregon where she was a professor of marketing at the Lundquist College of Business. Since arriving at FAU, she has focused on the establishment of a “Business Insights Lab” to further elevate research in the department, as well as fine tune the department’s undergraduate majors. She also plans to launch a master’s degree in marketing and to re-establish the Ph.D. program in marketing.

“I feel very fortunate and honored to be the leader of this wonderful group of scholars and teachers, and to further elevate our research in both marketing and hospitality,” Yuan said. “I’m excited for what we as a university and department are going to accomplish over the next few years.”

Yuan earned a Ph.D. in marketing and a master’s degree in applied economics from the University of Michigan. Her research interests include firms’ pricing and promotion strategies, consumer information search, and experimental and behavioral economics.

Pennathur, a professor of finance within the College of Business, plans to create more internship opportunities for students, obtain a graduate and undergraduate CFA certification for the program, and invite high profile industry experts to share their expertise with students. Her research interests include corporate governance, firm performance, and the regulation of institutions and markets.

“It feels good to be a voice to help faculty shine even more. We have very well-known research faculty and there is a growing finance community in Boca Raton and Miami,” she said. “It’s really time for us to grow our enrollment in the master’s of finance program and prepare students for this type of market.”

Williams, a professor of management, has already put into place numerous initiatives to push the department forward. She’s led the charge in refreshing and rebranding programs and course offerings, updated the international business degree, and fostered networking opportunities for students.

“I have been in academia for 25 years, the majority of that has been spent at Florida Atlantic University,” Williams said. “It is a joy to be able to represent the faculty I have known for so long and to extend the vision for management programs with them.”

-FAU-