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Reflections upon my Professional Service
Much of my professional service has consisted of serving as a reviewer, discussant, or session chair for such organizations as the Academy of Management, the Southern Management Association, and the Southwest Academy of Management (see Professional Activities in my vita). I have also been privileged to serve on the editorial boards of three journals: The Journal of Biblical Integration in Business, the Christian Business Academy Review, and the Journal of Ministry Marketing and Management.
Two organizations, however, have been especially meaningful to me: the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and the Christian Business Faculty Association(CBFA). The CBFA conferences have been a wonderful time to share best practices in Christian higher education and to enjoy fellowship with other Christian faculty members. The atmosphere at CBFA conferences is always positive and enjoyable. I have had the opportunity to chair the CBFA's strategic planning task force and to serve on the CBFA Board of Directors.
Prior to becoming the president of the IACBE, I had the opportunity to serve on the IACBE's Board of Commissioners and to chair that group. In the process I have learned a great deal about professional accreditation and the accreditation process in general. In conjunction with Dr. Steven Bovee (Roberts Wesleyan College) and Dr. Joe Walenciak (John Brown University), along with Dr. John Green of the IACBE, I was able to take a lead role in the development of the IACBE's Accreditation Manual, and later, its Accreditation Process Manual. I have also been able to play a key role in the IACBE's process of applying for recognition by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), recently helped write the IACBE's strategic plan, and helped to revise the IACBE's Bylaws. There is a wonderful sense of accomplishment that comes from working with an extremely dedicated, intelligent, and spiritual team of colleagues to produce excellent publications.
My service with the IACBE increased my understanding of the importance of staying true to the foundational principles of an organization, especially when those foundational principles are the right ones. The IACBE was founded to promote excellence in business education through the use of outcomes assessment. The IACBE Commissioners have had many opportunities to deviate from the foundational principles of the organization, and to move toward a more prescriptive approach to accreditation. They have, however, resisted that temptation and stayed true to the organization's principles. Thus far, the results have been positive.
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