Michelle Trawick to Step Down as CBA Dean

Michelle Trawick, Ph.D., John Becker Dean of the College of Business Administration (CBA), will step down from her role at the end of the Fall 2024 semester and return to faculty as a professor in the Department of Economics, University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Phil He, Ph.D., announced today.

John Lucas Diamond Professor of Management Steve Schulz, Ph.D., will serve as interim dean.

“I am grateful for the work that Dean Trawick has led in the college and the community, and also for her commitment to continue to support the college and assist with philanthropic and accreditation efforts as needed,” He said. “Thanks to Dean Trawick’s leadership, I see tremendous potential for the college. CBA has exceptional faculty and staff, world class facilities, and is located in the heart of the Omaha community. I want CBA to be the first choice for business education not only in the state, but also in the region.”

Trawick – a first-generation student – arrived in Omaha in February 2020 following a national search. Prior to UNO, she served as the associate provost for Faculty and Academic Excellence at Western Kentucky University (WKU). Multiple CBA programs received national recognition from U.S. News and World Report in Trawick’s time leading the college, including a top 150 ranking for its undergraduate business program, a top 100 ranking for its part-time MBA program, and a top 25 ranking for its online bachelor’s in business program.

"I am deeply grateful to our faculty and staff for their collaborative efforts and entrepreneurial spirit that have truly shaped the College of Business Administration as a leading destination for transformational education in the Midwest," said Trawick. "I will take great pride in watching their successes, individually and collectively, as they continue their amazing journeys equipping the next generation of leaders who will shape the Omaha community and beyond.”

Information regarding leadership transition and search plans will be forthcoming.

About Steve Schulz, Ph.D.

Schulz serves as the John Lucas Diamond Professor in the Department of Management, bringing expertise in logistics, high-performance organizations, and new product development. His teaching interests include industrial purchasing, global sourcing, and supply chain management, while his research focuses on workforce leadership, development, and IT-enabled business solutions. Schulz has been a driving force in positioning UNO as a leader in supply chain management education. Upon his arrival at UNO nearly a decade ago, Schulz led the development of the highly successful undergraduate program in Supply Chain Management, which includes an innovative co-op program intended to foster experiential learning and meet workforce development needs. Schulz is also now spearheading efforts to expand graduate-level academic programming through a master’s degree in Healthcare Logistics and Supply Chain Management. This program will position UNO as a leader in healthcare logistics, equipping students with the expertise to design and lead high-performance networks of healthcare organizations.

Schulz is an active member of numerous professional organizations and is the founder and coordinator of the national Logistics and Supply Chain Management Industry Advisory Board, a nationally recognized advisory body. His dedication to excellence has earned him numerous honors and awards including three Dean’s Citations for Excellence in Service, student engagement and teaching awards, and he has been a member of not one, but two, university departments recognized by the President’s Office with the University-wide Department Teaching Award - in 2021 at UNO (Management) and in 2012 when he was on the faculty at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK). Through his innovative leadership and commitment to education, Schulz continues to advance the College of Business Administration and empower its students to succeed.