President Perrin announced in a press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015 that LCU has formed a School of Business. The Department of Business Administration, Department of Organizational Management and Leadership, and the Masters of Leadership Program combined into one effective entity in time for the fall semester. Reorganizing these departments into a School of Business more closely aligns LCU with common practice among university business programs. “This consolidation into the School of Business is an important event in the history of our University. This change represents important opportunities for growth, expansion, and alignment with expected practice among university business programs. In addition, it is expected to enhance synergy in efforts to serve our students and alumni, and foster cooperative opportunities with businesses and business leaders,” said Dean Toby Rogers of the B. Ward Lane College of Professional studies. Tracy Mack has taken on leadership as Interim Associate Dean of the School of Business, and spoke on behalf of the new School at the press conference. “Since the very founding of LCU, we have had excellent business education. I believe by creating a School of Business, we can continue and improve on a great and long tradition of graduating high quality, highly educated, highly ethical business leaders,” said Mack. Mack also introduced alumnus and new professor N. Lamar Reinsch (’67) who spoke on the importance of business education in the modern world. Reinsch returns to the LCU family, almost 50 years after his graduation, as a Distinguished Professor of Business Management. After graduating with an associate degree from LCU, Reinsch went on to complete his bachelor’s in communication at Abilene Christian University. He obtained a master’s in rhetoric and public address at Central Michigan University, and a Ph.D. in speech communications and human relations from the University of Kansas. He returned to ACU for a B.B.A. in the early nineties. He has since taught at Oklahoma State University (1977-1984), Abilene Christian University (1984-1992), and occupied various roles at Georgetown University (1992-2015), including professor, director and coordinator, and associate dean of the McDonough School of Business. Faculty of the joining business departments believe that offering a School of Business will extend, grow and deepen the influence that LCU students have on the world. By creating and growing this School of Business they hope to have a major positive impact on the future of the students and university. In spring of 2015, a proposal was submitted for the School of Business to the Provost for academic review. Approval was granted in late summer, in time for the 2015-2016 academic year. Provost and Chief Academic Officer of LCU, Rod Blackwood said of the change, “I am very pleased to see our business areas take this next step forward in their maturation. This will enable them to consolidate their efforts and resources and do an even better job of serving our students.”