Bellarmine University has named Dr. Daniel Petree as interim dean of the W. Fielding Rubel School of Business for the 2022-23 academic year, while a national search takes place for the school’s next dean.  Petree has served in the role of dean at four different universities and brings valuable experience from the private and government sectors.   “I believe that Louisville and the region need the Rubel School as an exemplar of how a strong, independent business school with a firm commitment to values and excellence can contribute to developing the next generation of accounting, business and organization professionals and leaders,” said Petree. “I am honored to be invited to lead this wonderful school during their search for a permanent dean.”  He replaces Dr. Natasha Munshi, who is leaving Bellarmine in mid-July to set up her own entrepreneurial venture in California.  “We are very excited to have Dr. Petree join us as the interim dean of the Rubel School of Business,” said Dr. Paul Gore, Bellarmine’s vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Dr. Petree has over 20 years’ experience as an academic and university leader at both public and private colleges and universities. The Rubel School is poised for strategic growth in existing and new academic degrees, along with corporate executive programs, and Dr. Petree will lead the school’s outstanding faculty in these efforts. He will be a valued member of the academic leadership team and I look forward to the opportunity to work with him this year.”  Petree was most recently interim dean of Sonoma State University’s School of Business and Economics. Previously, he was the inaugural dean of the School of Business and Economics at the College at Brockport State University, founding dean of the College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and interim dean of the Helzburg School of Management at Rockhurst University. He also brings experience from his work at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City, and consulting work in the areas of planning, continuous quality improvement, labor relations and economic development.  Petree earned a Ph.D. in labor and human resources from the University of Kansas. He also holds a bachelor's degree in business accounting and an MBA from Rockhurst University.   Over the past two years, the Rubel School has positioned itself for continued excellence by:  

• Extending its prestigious accreditation by the AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), a distinction held by fewer than 5 percent of business schools worldwide. 
• Launching a new undergraduate degree in Marketing and a minor in Business Analytics. 
• Adopting a new Strategic Plan centered on excellence in teaching, curricular and co-curricular innovation, new program development and community engagement. 
• Establishing a new Rubel School Advisory Board of executives from the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. 
• Continuing to innovate its signature weeknight, weekend and executive MBA program, which was recognized by U.S. News & World Report last year as being among the nation’s best. 
• Launching novel Executive Education and Certificate programs that align with market opportunities, such as the Accounting Analytics Certificate and an Emerging Leaders program with Kroger.