DePaul University Interim Provost Salma Ghanem has named Thomas Donley Interim Dean for the College of Business, effective July 1.
Prior to his appointment, Donley, a professor of economics, held a series of administrative roles in which he helped shape the business college’s academic programs and operations,
as well as DePaul’s faculty governance. He will succeed Misty Johanson, who steps down June 30 to return to the School of Hospitality Leadership as a senior faculty member after a year’s leave.
“In his 30 years at DePaul, Tom has consistently demonstrated dedication to delivering an excellent education to our students,” Ghanem says. “From his leadership roles on Faculty Council to his international business expertise, Tom will be an effective advocate for continuing the business college’s success during this time of transition.”
As an associate dean for Driehaus since 2018, Donley oversees the college’s academic operations and manages its international program strategy, which includes graduate business programs in Bahrain and more than a dozen international business study abroad seminars annually. In his previous role as special assistant to the dean, he assessed academic unit performance to position the college for success.
“As interim dean I plan to focus my leadership on developing new market-driven programs and technology-enhanced course delivery modes that meet the needs of today’s students,” Donley says. “I also look forward to leading our college’s efforts to be reaccredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.”
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Donley joined DePaul’s faculty in 1990 and was promoted to professor of economics in 2002. He served from 2007 to 2016 as chair of the Department of Economics, where he established the Master of Science in Economics & Policy Analysis and its innovative fellowship program in Washington, D.C. DePaul presented Donley with its Spirit of DePaul Award in 2015.
As interim dean I plan to focus my leadership on developing new market-driven programs and technology-enhanced course delivery modes that meet the needs of today’s students.”
Donley served as president of the DePaul Faculty Council from 2004 to 2006. In this role, he updated the council’s faculty representation model and initiated a revision of the Faculty Handbook.
Donley’s research expertise is in applied microeconomics and econometrics, with a focus on labor markets and wage inequality. He teaches courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics and public economics, and has received college teaching excellence awards.
He earned a PhD and Master of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where his dissertation examined family income inequality. Donley also holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
“As associate dean overseeing academic operations, Tom has done an excellent job of guiding our college department leadership,” Johanson says. “I am confident that under his leadership, the college will advance in the achievement of its strategic goals.” The Office of the Provost expects the dean search for the Driehaus College of Business to begin in the 2020-21 academic year.
