After nearly 18 years of serving as the dean of the Shields School of Business, Randy Frye will exit this role on June 30.
“This was being planned for a couple years now,” he said. “Because of the restructuring (at the University), they’re making some changes.”
While he will be stepping down as dean at the end of next month, Frye will continue to teach within the SSOB.
He has taught at the collegiate level for 46 years. Frye began his career in higher education at Mount Aloysius in 1980 and taught at the Cresson school for four years. He arrived at SFU in 1984 and has taught 23 different courses since joining the University faculty.
Frye has taught regularly while serving in the dean’s role. He helped launch the University’s MBA Program in 1990 and was the recipient of the Swatworth Excellence-in-Teaching Award in 1998. He has been a finalist for the institution’s Distinguished Faculty Award seven times.
He led efforts to introduce Marketing and Finance majors to the SSOB’s program offerings and was instrumental in the formation of SFU’s chapters of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization, Enactus and the American Marketing Association. A certified management accountant, Frye has always prioritized leading through innovation.
“I’m most proud of starting the MBA program,” he said.
Prior to his appointment as dean of the SSOB, Frye served as the Business Administration Department Chairperson at Saint Francis from 1988 to 2008. He currently teaches Accounting, Marketing and MBA courses.
He earned a bachelor’s degree and doctoral degree from the University of Pittsburgh and he holds two master’s degrees—one from Saint Francis and another from IUP. Frye and his wife Barbara’s three sons are all graduates of SFU.
Frye’s contributions go far beyond the classroom and the dean’s office. He has taken students on numerous experiential learning trips throughout the United States and overseas and has mentored thousands of Saint Francis graduates.
“I will most miss the student contact,” he said. “You guys [students] keep me young.”
Frye is proud of his track record of hiring talented faculty and staff members.
“We’ve hired really good faculty,” he said. “We’ve recruited, selected and retained world-class educators.”
University President Fr. Malachi Van Tassell said he is appreciative of Frye’s tireless work ethic, his enthusiasm for the job, and his eye for talent in the hiring process.
“I am grateful to him for hiring so many amazing faculty,” said Fr. Malachi.
Frye said he appreciates the opportunity he’s been given to form meaningful connections at Saint Francis.
“It’s all about relationships,” he said. “That’s the most enriching part of the job.”
Fr. Malachi believes that Frye’s work over the last four decades has positioned the SSOB for success moving forward.
“Dr. Frye has set the Shields School of Business on a firm foundation, which makes for a great future.”
Frye said he is proud of what has been accomplished during his time leading the SSOB. He is also optimistic about what lies ahead.
“I’ve had a good run,” he said. “If I had a do-over, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
