Hankamer School of Business

Terry Maness, Dean

What is the greatest challenge or opportunity that students in Baylor's Hankamer School of Business (HSB) will face, and how is Baylor preparing them to face/address it?

The world is changing rapidly and the students need to be prepared to be flexible and adapt to changes, even to lead change where needed. That is why we added the word "innovation" to our new campus, the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation. Approaching their careers with an awareness that they can contribute to making things better is critical to the long-term viability of a global marketplace. The best way for HSB to help is to expose our students to a blend of theory and practice. They need a strong theoretical foundation that hones their critical thinking skills and then they need to engage with professionals to see how to apply what they are learning in the classroom. The blending of theory with practice is critical preparation for our students. The key characteristics of an education from Baylor's business school are rigorous classroom learning, hands-on learning in a real-world setting, and a global perspective, all built on a foundation of Christian values.

What do you hope students in the HSB gain during their time at Baylor?

Appreciation for the importance of values and integrity. That doing what is right, while perhaps difficult in the short term, will win out in the long term.

What is the most significant thing Baylor graduates from the HSB offer to the world?

That the education they receive has a foundation of Christian values.

What is the most exciting/meaningful thing about being dean of Baylor's HSB?

The opportunity to explore new programs that open up doors to new career opportunities for our students. We have been blessed at Baylor to have a faculty who care about students and who desire to create new opportunities. It is exciting to then work to develop resources to support the faculty in these new endeavors. Perhaps this is most evident in the new Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, the new home of the Hankamer School of Business that will open for fall 2015 classes. It has been exciting to be a part of the planning process for this new facility that will offer many new opportunities for our faculty and students to be innovative in how we provide a business education. It has also been humbling to realize the passion that our alumni have for Baylor and the Hankamer School of Business and how they rallied around the opportunity to fund the Foster Campus project.

Do you have a mentor/memory or experience from your time at Baylor (or elsewhere) that deeply influenced who/where you are today?

I have had two mentors during my career. My first mentor was Dr. James Truitt, department chair of economics. He is the person who started me on the path toward a career in academia. This is what I appreciate most about Baylor is that the faculty take an interest in the students. When I was a senior he inquired as to my interest in pursuing a masters degree. I had not entertained that option until he encouraged me to apply. I did and got accepted to Baylor MS in economics program. He then encouraged me to apply for a PhD program, and I was accepted to Indiana University...the rest is history. My second mentor was Richard Scott. Richard was appointed dean of the HSB the year I arrived on campus from Indiana. He provided a number of leadership roles for me to pursue, ultimately leading to my appointment as dean in April 1997.

Is there anything you want alumni or parents to know about you or your plans for the HSB? Please explain.

That we will continue to innovate how we teach and interact with business and our academic peers and that we will continue to hold true to the Christian principles and values upon which Baylor was established.