Michael DeVaughn has been appointed as the new Dean of the Pamplin School of Business; he will begin his tenure on July 1. DeVaughn is making history as the first African-American dean of the UP business school. University of Portland President Fr. Mark Poorman made the announcement in an email sent on March 10.
DeVaughn previously worked at the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas as the Faculty Director of the M.B.A Program and Research Fellow in the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship.
“He has engaged in significant efforts to understand and strengthen retention and graduation rates at St. Thomas while championing principles and actions that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion,” Poorman said in the email.
Portrait of Michael DeVaughn. Photo courtesy of the University of Portland website.
DeVaughn is also highly involved with the Ph.D. Project, an initiative committed to diversifying business faculty, while also advocating for broadening access to higher education.
Poorman wrote that he hopes that all will join him in welcoming DeVaughn as the newest edition to the UP community, and gives thanks to all of those involved in the search.
“I extend my deep gratitude to Dr. Gary Malecha for his excellent service to UP as Interim Dean of the Pamplin School of Business. I also thank the twelve members of our Search Committee, chaired by Provost Herbert A. Medina, and all of the students, faculty, and staff who engaged in our extensive search process,” the announcement said.
DeVaughn will be replacing former dean Robin Anderson, who retired in June of 2020. Political science Professor Gary Malecha has been serving as the interim dean for the Pamplin School since Anderson’s retirement.
“As a Pilot parent, I am already a member of the UP family and look forward to the next, exciting, challenging chapter of my engagement with the University,” DeVaughn told the University in a statement.
Austin De Dios contributed to this story. He can be reached at dedios22@up.edu.
Brie Haro is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at Haro23@up.edu.
