A Special Farewell to Dean Anderson
“Wherever fate demands me… I will go.” - Gertudis Gomez

“No one plans all of the events in their life. It’s interesting to see how things work out,” Robert Anderson professes as he describes his journey to becoming Dean of the University of South Florida College of Business Administration (COBA). “Most people would not believe a professor or dean would have lived the life that I have.”  After 35 years of service to COBA, Dean Anderson is retiring this August. His passion, strength and dedication are exemplified not only through the success of his personal life, but also through the contributions he has made to COBA during his tenure. “He is a person of high integrity, great humor and solid work ethics,” USF Provost Renu Khator comments about Dean Anderson. Both professionally and personally, he is an inspiration to students, faculty, alumni and colleagues.
 

When asked what brought him to the College and the Dean’s position, Dean Anderson begins describing the influence of his wife, Donna.  Before retiring, Donna was an Associate Professor in the USF College of Education.  She was the second person to receive her PhD in the College of Education at USF and be hired in a tenure-earning position. “She was obviously exceptional,” Dean Anderson proudly declares.  The couple met on a blind date at a drive-thru when he was 20 years old. “She let it be known in no uncertain way that our relationship was over if I didn’t go to college,” Dean Anderson discloses. “When I graduated from high school, I was earning the same income as my father.  It was very appealing. College wasn’t something I wanted to do at the time.” The turning point in his life was deciding if he wanted the relationship with Donna to be over, or if he wanted to go to school.  “Of course I quit my job, sold my car, and left for school with only $600 in my pocket,” Dean Anderson smiles. He was the first in his family to attend college.
 

While working towards his BA in Finance, Dean Anderson and Donna got engaged, married, and had their first child, Michael - which wasn’t easy.  “We faced many bumps in the road along the way,” Dean Anderson continues, “Donna lost both of her parents in a car accident, and her brother was in a tragic airplane crash.  Her brother survived the crash, but he was hospitalized for about 11 years.”  During this time, both of them fell in love with campus life and with learning.  At the suggestion of one of his mentors, Dean Anderson continued to earn his M.S. in Marketing at Southern Illinois University, and eventually received his PhD in Marketing and Finance from the University of North Texas.
 

While finishing his PhD, Dean Anderson began looking for prospective universities for employment, and all signs seemed to lead him to USF.  He narrowed his choices and began interviewing. His first choice was the University of Arkansas.  It was winter at the time, and it turned out he couldn’t get up the hill to the college because they had an ice storm.  Two weeks later, he was scheduled to visit Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg.  He flew in, but could not get to Blacksburg because they were also snowed in.  In the mean time, a friend he met in graduate school called and told him to come to Tampa, FL for a job at a new school.  He went on a couple of other visits, and eventually joined the faculty at USF.  “I told Donna we would only be here two years, but we stayed quite a bit longer,” Dean Anderson shares with humor. He joined the faculty of the College of Business Administration in 1971. In 1989, he was appointed Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, and, in 1996, became Dean of the College.
 

USF has grown from almost an exclusively teaching university into a first- class research institution during Anderson’s tenure.  “When I started, there were only about 400 or 500 faculty members across the campus; now there are over 2,000.  Then, there were about nine buildings on campus, and now we look like a small city.” When describing how this was accomplished, Dean Anderson emphasizes the significance of being able to recruit and maintain outstanding faculty. “The Dean has strengthened faculty recognition and salaries with the establishment of a number of college professorships,” affirms Rick Meyer, COBA’s Associate Dean.

The new addition to Chester H. Ferguson Hall,
which opened March 2005, is one of the many
legacies Dean Anderson will leave at COBA.

“He’s also been a student-oriented dean,” adds Meyer. “When he plans for the college and makes decisions, he virtually always thinks first about how it will help the students.”  Ralph Ghioto, MBA ’88 and current Vice Chairperson of the Dean’s Circle Advisory Board, recalls, “Bob never forgets to tell me how proud he is of my accomplishments. His support, encouragement, and enthusiasm are an inspiration.  It’s the human element that he brings to his work that makes him a great leader. His personality and positive demeanor are uplifting and will be missed when he retires.” 
 

Mentor Neil Armstrong and
mentee Karen Davis-Dove, part of
the Corporate Mentor Program



 

“It’s a great opportunity not only for the students, but also for the mentors. Every time you coach someone it’s a collective learning experience,” suggests Joe Teague, Chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Circle. “This program is just one example of how Bob has partnered the business world with COBA,” states Teague. Ghioto confirms, “It is one of his legacies that will thrive in the years to come.”

Click here to learn about the Dean's Legacy Campaign to benefit the Corporate Mentors Program.
 

When asked what qualities a great dean possesses, Dean Anderson held up the curriculum vita of his successor, Dr. Robert Forsythe.  “This man is the embodiment of a great leader and dean.” Dean Anderson professes, “I have no doubt that he will be an asset to this university.” Dr. Forsythe is currently the Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Economics at the College of Business at the University of Iowa, and will begin with COBA on July 1^st.



 

Dean Anderson at the ground breaking ceremony for the new addition to Chester H. Ferguson Hall.

Bob Anderson will be a tough act to follow.  His contributions have been extraordinary.  His advice to Dr. Forsythe is to learn how to distinguish leadership from management.  “There’s nothing to prepare you to be Dean." Anderson advises, “Deans have to learn the difference between leadership and management.  Good management is making sure that people do the right thing at the right time.  There’s already a prescribed way of doing things.  Leadership is getting something accomplished that does not have a clear direction, or a prescription already laid out. That was a big challenge.”
 

Dean Anderson’s life after retirement will include travel, relaxation, and quality time with his family. “Donna and I never really had much time to travel.  I will be taking her on a month-long date in Italy.  We plan to get to know one another again,” expresses Dean Anderson.  “For the long-term, we plan to stay in Tampa, and I will continue on the board as chairman at the University Community Hospital.  I will probably coach at least two of my grandson’s little league baseball teams.  I’ll still be involved in the business community, and I’ll help my daughter, Stacy and her husband with their company.  The best part is that I’m going to be able to decide when I wake up in the morning what I am going to do that day,” he exclaims.
 

“I don’t think Dean Anderson can retire…he is living an illusion of retirement.  I expect to see him engaged with the university because he cares about the university and its people,” suggests Provost Khator. His unique life experiences have contributed to his exceptional, passionate, and compassionate tenure. His success in his personal and professional life has been an inspiration. “I still can’t believe they paid me to do this.  I can’t think of any profession I would rather have been in. I will miss it so much when I leave.” Dean Anderson concludes.