Meet ONU's new dean of Dicke College of Business Administration

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Ohio Northern University President Daniel A. DiBiasio has announced that Dr. John C. Navin, dean of the School of Business at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), has been named dean of ONU’s Dicke College of Business Administration.

Navin replaces the retiring Dr. Jim Fenton, who has served as dean since 2005.

“Ohio Northern University is pleased to welcome Dr. Navin to our campus and leadership team,” said DiBiasio. “We are excited to have attracted John to the dean’s position and look forward to his arrival. His success in external relations, fundraising, corporate partnerships and professional activities will be a true asset to the University.”

A native of Bowling Green, Ohio, Navin earned his BSBA in economics from Bowling Green State University and his MA and Ph.D. in economics from Michigan State University. He joined SIUE in 1991, where he rose through the faculty ranks and served in several leadership positions, including the undergraduate program director in economics and finance as well as chair of the Department of Economics and Finance. He became interim dean of the SIUE School of Business in 2013 and then dean in 2015.

As dean of the SIUE School of Business, Navin oversaw the day-to-day operations of the school and its 51 full-time faculty, 22 part-time faculty and 21 full-time staff members.

He managed relationships with alumni as well as donor relations and fundraising. He was responsible for the school’s strategic planning process and for maintaining its AACSB accreditation.

Under his leadership as dean, the SIUE School of Business developed a graduate specialization in business analytics, a joint MBA and Doctor of Pharmacy program, and a joint MBA and Doctor of Nurse Practitioner program.

Navin has published dozens of articles and made dozens of presentations on his fields of interests, which include state and local public finance, health economics, and labor economics. He chaired SIUE’s University’s Planning and Budget Council and served as a trustee for the village of Glen Carbon, Ill.

He and his wife, Patty, have six children.