WKU News

The new Dean of the GFCB, Dr. Christopher Shook, has spent the past few weeks getting to know the WKU campus and said he is excited about building on the strong foundation of faculty, staff, students, and alumni to make a positive impact “My personal mission is to make our world a better place through higher education and extending those opportunities to all peoples. I felt I could do that here.”

Dr. Shook began his tenure as Dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business on July 1 after previously serving as the Sprunk & Burnham Endowed Dean at the University of Montana College of Business, He also served as Department Chair and Center Director at Auburn University.

While higher education faces more challenges than ever, Dr. Shook is optimistic about all the College can do because of the positive spirit on campus amongst its leadership as well as the faculty and staff. “It has been great to note the desire and willingness to confront the challenges and turn the challenges into opportunities,” he said.

A first-generation college student himself, Dr. Shook felt drawn to come to the GFCB because of the student demographics and the strong student-centered initiatives offered. “I’ll be asking alumni and friends to help us do an even better job of developing our students,” he said. “We can do even greater things for our students and community,”

“Alumni are incredible partners with us. Clearly, we need financial help from alumni, but they can help us in many other ways,” he said. “I would love for alums to lecture in classes, host interns, host company visits, and mentor our students. They can also help us recruit students. Can you imagine if every GFCB alum recruited a freshman for us this year?”

He said leaders lead best when they are asking the right questions. He also strives to be a forthright, energetic, objective, transparent, and collaborative leader.

His favorite quote is from author John Pavlovitz: “Everyone you meet is doing the exact same thing you are: Trying their best to live through a day they’ve never been to before. Give some grace.”