Date:
11/16/2004
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Marc Schoder
PORTALES — Dr. Gerry Huybregts, dean of the College of Business at Eastern New Mexico University, has announced that he is stepping down at the end of the 2005 spring semester as dean for health reasons and to spend more time with his wife.
"I am stepping down to focus my energies on distance education as well as go back to a regular faculty position where I can have more contact with the students," says Dr. Huybregts. The Aussie dean has been at the helm of the College of Business for seven years. "I feel comfortable stepping down since I have been dean for seven years and we have well-qualified faculty able and committed to improving the programs offered by the college ," says Dr. Huybregts.
During Dr. Huybregt's reign as dean, the college has had many successes, all of which he attributes to the great faculty , staff and students in the college. "The continued success of our students on the Major Field Assessment Test in Business is an indication of a solid curriculum, good faculty and good students. The development of the accredited online MBA program and support for the development of online degree programs for the New Mexico Corrections system are more recent examples," says Dr. Huybregts.
During his reign at the helm of the College of Business, he oversaw the start of online business courses as well as changing the curriculum so that business students are taking more elective courses both within and outside the College of Business. "We started the online business courses to reach those students not able to get to our ITV sites and to overcome the competition for time slots on the ITV system," says Dr. Huybregts. "We also are in the forefront in using hybrid delivery systems - a mix of face-to-face and web content - to prepare both our faculty and our students for the world of learning that they will face in the future."
The 59-year-old Netherlands-born dean gets good reviews from his friends and colleagues. "I have always admired the integrity and the dedication of Gerry Huybregts to this University. However, I understand because of his health he can't devote time to both being director of Extended Learning and the dean of the College of Business," says Dr. Dale Davis, professor of marketing and former dean when Dr. Huybregts was associate dean.
"Being both the dean of the College of Business and the director of Extended Learning takes a huge chunk of time. It will be sad to see him leave the deanship," added Dr. Davis.
"Most faculty recognize that Dr. Huybregts has the two positions," says Dr. Bill Brunsen, professor of finance. "With the demands of both positions and to do them well was going to eventually destroy his health. He will be missed as dean."
"He was the best boss in the world," says Gayle Pratt, a former secretary for Dr. Huybregts and now a local businesswoman. "He is easy-going, and is the most intelligent man I have ever known. He takes care of his faculty and professional staff," says Ms. Pratt.
"Dr. Huybregts is a charitable man," says Geralyn Million, Special Programs Coordinator in Extended Learning. "To give you an example, he would buy dinner for the faculty of the College of Business and Extended Learning at Rotary International's visit to the Children's Home during Christmas time."
Dr. Brunsen summed up Dr. Huybregts' career this way: "When a leader with Dr. Huybregts' experience leaves, we lose by definition."
Dr. Gerry Huybregts (photo by Marc Schoder)