Rhey Returns As Graduate Director

After two years as a dean at Jacksonville University, former UT marketing professor Dr. William Rhey has returned to The University of Tampa, where he will succeed Dr. Mary Prescott as director of graduate studies and associate dean of the John H. Sykes College of Business.

“Who would not want to be part of the growth at The University of Tampa?” Rhey said. “I left a healthy business environment in Jacksonville to return to Tampa because of the vibrant opportunities UT offers. This University has leveraged its growth on quality.”

Sykes College dean Dr. Joe McCann said a national search brought in “easily 100 applicants,” but that choosing Rhey was much more than a matter of familiarity.  

“That would have not been good for the program,” McCann said. “It was more a question of what we needed, and Bill fit that. He knew us, he knew the program, and with his marketing background, it was precisely what we needed to take us forward.”

“The ongoing graduate programs in business and nursing will continue to attract upwardly mobile professionals from the Bay area. The welcome challenge over the next few years will be to maintain steady growth in these traditional areas while initiating quality graduate programs to meet the diverse educational needs in this important metropolitan community.”

During his previous tenure at UT, Rhey also served as director of the Center for Ethics from 1991-2002. He is a 1972 graduate (BS) of Bucknell University, received his MBA at Baylor University in 1973, and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Mississippi in 1986. He has conducted business seminars in Bulgaria, Russia, China, Jamaica and Brazil. He taught at UT from 1986-2002.