Deborah Spake was named the new dean of the College of Business Administration Wednesday.

Todd Diacon, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, announced she will join Kent State University on Jan. 1, 2013.

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Spake as part of our Kent State family,” Diacon said in a press release. “Her successful career in private industry, combined with her considerable talents and success as a fundraiser, will help propel our College of Business Administration to new heights.”

Spake, who currently serves as associate dean and marketing professor at the University of South Alabama, will replace interim Dean Kathryn Wilson, who will return to her faculty position in the Department of Economics.

“I love being an economics professor. I have enjoyed being interim dean,” Wilson said. “It’s been challenging. It’s been fascinating. I get to work with wonderful people. There aren’t very many people who get to wake up in the morning and do the job they absolutely love. I don’t want to give that up.”

According to the press release, Spake will develop and supervise the program budget, make recommendations regarding the appointment and retention of all staff and faculty, recommend and implement program and course offerings, establish course assignments and workloads and enforce university regulations, policies and procedures.

Spake earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of South Alabama, and she received both her master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama.

According to the press release, Spake has worked at many institutions of higher education: the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell College of Business; the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich.; Fachhochshule Worms (University of Applied Sciences) in Worms, Germany; and the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Ala.

Her research has revolved around service marketing, health care marketing, advertising and business ethics, many of which have appeared in publications, according to the press release.

Contact Mary Kate Garvey at [email protected].