TO: Campus Community
FR: Karen Moranski, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Sonoma State University announced today that Dr. Michael Visser has been appointed the new Interim Dean of the School of Business and Economics (SBE), effective January 3, 2023. Karen Thompson, past Interim Dean of the SBE, has accepted the role of Interim Faculty Associate Dean. As an experienced leader for the past 17 years at Sonoma State, Dr. Visser will succeed Dr. Jean-Francois Coget. Dr. Coget will be the new Dean of the School of Business for California State University, Sacramento.
Dr. Visser is currently serving as the Faculty Associate Dean of the SBE, a Professor of Economics, and a prior Chair of the Department of Economics at SSU. A first-generation college student, Dr. Visser has been actively involved in supporting inclusive excellence and student success initiatives, and identifying pathways for student progress, academic planning, and support activities in advising and support.
"I want to thank Dr. Dean Jean-Francois Coget for his innovative work at the SBE and wish him the best. I am also extremely excited that Dr. Visser and Dr. Thompson have accepted the interim positions of Dean and Faculty Associate Dean," said Karen Moranski, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Sonoma State University. "I know that this pair of excellent leaders will continue to provide stability and cohesion at the school. Both are eager to work with all faculty and staff to continue the achievements we have seen over the past several years," Moranski said.
Dr. Visser received a Ph.D. and a Masters in Economics at the University of Oregon, and an undergraduate degree in Economics from Western Washington University. In 2015, he was recognized by colleagues across the University with the coveted "Excellence in Teaching" award. "As SSU continues to be engaged in a spirit of renewal, I am very confident that these changes will advance the SBE to its next level of excellence," said Moranski.