Northwest Nazarene University announced Bill Russell will assume the position of dean of the School of Business beginning 15 October.  

From 2002 to 2016, Russell served in a variety of positions at the university, including professor of business law, associate dean of the School of Business, director of the MBA program, executive director for Community and Governmental Relations, general counsel, and associate vice president for Advancement.  

“The NNU School of Business has been a keystone in the fabric of Idaho Business Education for many years, and I look forward to continuing and advancing that long tradition,” Russell said. “I will strive to ensure that the school continues to graduate business leaders with the strongest business skills, discernment and acumen, and with the greatest character and ethical grounding.”

Since leaving the university in 2016, Russell has remained an active member on the Foundation Board and has continued to cultivate relationships throughout the Boise Valley on behalf of NNU. Russell is returning to NNU as dean to not only focus on the internal aspects of the school but to also grow external relationships that will help the School of Business flourish in a dynamic and ever-changing environment. The hope for these local partnerships will be to expand the School of Business’s connections in the Boise Valley and beyond and create pathways for students’ continued success as they enter into the workplace.

NNU Vice President for Academic Affairs Brad Kurtz-Shaw feels Russell has a lot to offer the NNU community.

"Bill comes to this dean's role with an established network of relationships with regional business leaders and organizations, an entrepreneurial spirit for shaping our academic programs to meet real-world needs, and a passion for the transformational mission of NNU," Kurtz-Shaw said. "Bill will further cultivate a mutually beneficial relationship that has always existed between NNU and the Boise Valley. We’re grateful for the resources and partnerships of our local and regional business community that allows us to continue to shape our graduates as they enter into the workplace. Bill gets that NNU is here for good and he's going to do everything in his power to make sure that impact is as broad and deep as possible."

--Northwest Nazarene University