DALLAS TWP., Pa. – Misericordia University recently named Charles Richardson, Jr., D.P.S., as the dean of the College of Business after completing a nationwide search.
The Department of Business at Misericordia University offers undergraduate and graduate business programs in accounting, business administration, health care management, information technology, information technology security, sport management, master of business administration and Master of Science in organizational management.
Dr. Richardson comes to Misericordia University after serving as the dean of the School of Business and associate professor of marketing from 2015-18 at Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. During his career in higher education, he also has served as an assistant and associate professor of marketing at Clark Atlanta University in Georgia from 2005-15, and as a visiting professor at William Patterson University’s College of Business in Wayne, New Jersey, from 2002-03. In 2013-14, he was an ACE Fellow at New Jersey City University.
“I want to thank President Botzman and the administration for this opportunity to serve the campus community, as it is a great honor to be selected dean of the College of Business,’’ Dr. Richardson said. “Considering the success the university has experienced and its forward-thinking strategic plan, it is an exciting time to be at Misericordia.
“We will build on the Misericordia’s rich history of excellence and its mission to foster intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and respect for people in an environment where all are welcome,’’ he added. “We will continue to provide innovative and effective solutions to the compendium of challenges facing higher education and our local, state, national and global communities.’’
Dr. Richardson’s primary research interest is in the conjunction of marketing and international business, with a focus on cross-cultural consumer identity and behavior. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, a Master of Science in operations research and statistics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and an MBA in marketing from New York University’s Stern School of Business. In addition, he holds certifications in Quality Assurance, Integrated Planning in Higher Education and Practice of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Step I and Step II Instruments.
In addition, Dr. Richardson has worked to enhance leadership development and educational programs for students that align with institution’s strategic goals. At Claflin, for example, he developed opportunities for students to participate in external leadership development activities at professional conferences, and business case and business plan competitions. Dr. Richardson also initiated the formation of “Ubuntu,’’ an organization of business school students that develops community-minded, servant leaders, and negotiated and secured strategic partnerships with national companies that resulted in internships, scholarships and academic competitions for students.
Dr. Richardson has published numerous research papers and presented at national and international conferences. Most recently, he presented, “An Examination of Customer Service Practices in Emerging Market Economies in Southern Africa,’’ at the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs Global Conference in Toronto Canada. At the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Annual Conference, he presented, “Public/Private Partnerships: Utilizing Service Learning to Facilitate Student Engagement,’’ during the 2016 event in Baltimore, Maryland.
Prior to his roles in higher education, Dr. Richardson worked at AT&T for more than 25 years in various executive roles. He was manager of marketing information systems, international communication systems, and global business communications; director of the world partners company, and district manager of international strategy and alliances, and strategic pricing. He also served as the executive-on-loan and managing director of the National Urban Leagues’ Black Executive Exchange Program from 2003-04.
Dr. Richardson serves his community in several meaningful ways. He is a member of NAFSA: Association of International Educators Trainer Corps and Global University Network for Innovation Group of Experts in Higher Education & Sustainable Development, and is on the board of directors for Planet Forward and the Association of Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Dr. Richardson is a lifetime member of the National Black MBA Association, a past president of the PhD Project’s Marketing Doctoral Students Association, and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Societies.
Dr. Richardson and his wife, June, have been married for 22 years, and have two sons, Wesley and Jayden. The family resides in Kingston.
For more information about Misericordia University, please call (570) 674-6400 or visit www.misericordia.edu. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1924, Misericordia University is Luzerne County’s first four-year college and offers 56 academic programs on the graduate and undergraduate levels in full- and part-time formats. Misericordia University ranks in the top tier of the Best Regional Universities – North category of U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 edition of Best Colleges. The Princeton Review recognizes MU as a 2018 Best Northeastern College and MONEY Magazine includes Misericordia in its 2017-18 “Best Colleges” list.
