Mario Reyes, dean of the College of Business and Economics, will step down at the end of this academic year. Reyes, 59, plans to return to faculty in January 2017 and plans to retire after a few years of teaching.
“This was a hard decision,” Reyes said.
Mario Reyes
Reyes said he began thinking about retirement after the untimely death of former CBE Dean Jack Morris, who was both a friend and mentor.
Morris died of a heart attack in August of last year.
“Jack was the epitome of health”, Reyes said of the past dean.
Morris and Reyes” father, who also worked as a university administrator, were both retired for less than three years before their respective deaths. It was not until late May, when he visited his younger sister who was recovering from a stroke, that he made his decision to prepare for retirement.
“I was deeply affected by that,” Reyes said of the visit. “And there are other things I want to do.”
Reyes said he wants to phase in his retirement and wants to retire as a faculty member because teaching is why he came to UI.
“We will be thrilled to welcome him back as a respected and revered member of our talented and dedicated faculty,” said John Wiencek, UI provost and executive vice president, in a written statement.
Reyes said he will have to deal with issues he is not used to, such as cybersecurity, modern markets, developments in risk management and the impact of political and economic organizations.
“When I return to faculty, I expect the most difficult thing to be keeping up to date”, he said. “I haven”t done research in a long time now.”
Reyes said he is also interested in seeing how his teaching style will work with current students.
He said that despite apprehension of changes, he is excited to return to faculty.
“I taught (Monday), and it gave me a glimpse of what it will be like,” he said..
The university will begin preparing for Reyes” departure this fall. Borgia said there will be an international search for the new dean.
Reyes has been a part of UI ever since he joined the faculty in 1985 as a visiting assistant professor of finance. Serving as associate dean of the college from 2006- 2011 and dean since 2012, Reyes has supported and helped to raise funds for the college”s many programs.
“When I was in college, I had a very good working relationship with the associate dean”, he said of the administration.
During his tenure, Reyes helped maintain the college”s accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, raised money to increase the number of faculty fellowships and enhanced the Integrated Business curriculum. Business students may be particularly familiar with his work moving and expanding the trading room.
Reyes said he has accomplished goals that he set when started as dean in 2012.
This academic year will be Reyes” 31st year at UI.
“Could I have left? Sure,” he said. “But I stayed because of the people. I really fell in love with the students and faculty.”
Nishant Mohan can be contacted at [email protected] or on Twitter @NishantRMohan