Eli Jones ’82 named dean of Mays Business School

The Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System has approved the appointment of Eli Jones ’82 as dean of Mays Business School. Jones is currently dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and the Sam M. Walton Leadership Chair at the University of Arkansas. He will assume his new position at Mays on July 1.

Prior to accepting his current appointment at Arkansas, Jones served as dean of the E.J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Before that, he was the founding executive director of the Sales Excellence Institute, an associate dean and professor of marketing at the University of Houston, where he worked for 11 years.

“Mays Business School is uniquely positioned to play a transformational role in business research and education,” said Ricky Griffin, interim dean of Mays Business School. “Dr. Eli Jones has the right combination of experience, acumen and vision to lead our school through this exciting period. I look forward to working with Dr. Jones as he transitions to Mays, and then following his lead after he arrives.”

Jones will be returning to Texas A&M, where he earned his bachelor’s in journalism, his MBA and his PhD in marketing. His research interests are in sales, sales management and marketing strategy. His teaching interests are strategic selling, advanced professional selling, key accounts selling, sales leadership and marketing strategy.

“There’s nothing sweeter than the sound of home,” Jones said. “My wife and I are excited about returning to Aggieland and becoming an integral part of my alma mater. Texas A&M University and Mays Business School have been on an upward trajectory for some time, and I know that’s definitely a tradition that the talented faculty, dedicated staff and wonderful students want to continue. I appreciate Dr. Ricky Griffin for his leadership during the transition.”

In 2009, Jones was a recipient of Mays Business School’s Outstanding Doctoral Alumni Award. The late Jeff Conant, former head of the marketing department at Mays, called Jones “one of our most outstanding doctoral students in the mid ’90s.”

“From the first moment I met Eli, I knew he was destined for greatness and major leadership roles,” Conant said in 2009. “He understands the multiple missions of large universities and has personally made effective teaching, conducting relevant research and serving our discipline through professional service, high priorities in his career.”

ABOUT MAYS BUSINESS SCHOOL
Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School educates more than 5,900 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students in accounting, finance, management, management information systems, marketing and supply chain management. Mays consistently ranks among the top public business schools in the country for its undergraduate and MBA programs, and for faculty research. The mission of Mays Business School is creating knowledge and developing ethical leaders for a global society.