Bruce Magid, a business educator with over 40 years of experience in Latin American finance, was appointed dean of the International Business School this month, Provost Marty Krauss announced. Magid will officially begin July 7. Prof. Trenery Dolbear (IBS) has acted as interim dean since last September, following founding dean Peter Petri's resignation. Dolbear will continue teaching and serving as director of the Masters in International Economics and Finance at IBS.

After an international search with the firm Spencer Stewart, Krauss announced Magid's appointment May 7. A search committee headed by Prof. Ben Gomes-Casseres (IBS) assisted in the search.

"He was hands down our number one choice," Krauss said. "He brings a very unusual mix to the plate."

Before serving as the dean at the College of Business at San Jose State University, Magid helped found the Finance Credit and International Business Academy at Michigan State University, where he worked as executive director of the university's financial branch for five years. FCIB educates professionals on international trade and international business.

Magid's extensive experience in Latin America includes 21 years as Bank of America's managing director in Latin America and advisor to Venezuela's Minister of Planning from 1976-1997.

"I am delighted at the appointment of Bruce Magid as the new dean of IBS," Dolbear wrote in an e-mail to the Justice. "It strengthens our position as a leading global business school. I am confident that under his leadership, IBS will continue to flourish and to make a positive impact on our students."

Magid said IBS has been continuing on an "upward trajectory," and that he has the "unique opportunity to build one of the pre-eminent global business schools in the world."

Magid will arrive in the midst of IBS' effort to receive accredation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. IBS, founded in 1994, applied for accredidation in 2003 when the school changed its name.

"For IBS to be in a position to seek accreditation at this youthful point in its life is indicative of how strong a school it is," Krauss said.

Magid said he plans to increase IBS's visibility and strengthen its ties to corporations, specifically financial institutions, as well as with overseas universities.

Krauss said she and Magid have begun discussing the possibility of constructing a new dormitory to house international students and provide space for executive education programs.