An expert in organizational behavior and management with administrative experience in higher education has been named dean of The University of Toledo’s John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation.
Dr. Barbara Ritter, currently serving as dean of the Davis College of Business and Technology at Jacksonville University in Florida, will join UToledo on Monday, July 14.
Dr. Barbara Ritter will join UToledo as dean of the John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation on Monday, July 14.
“It is an honor to join UToledo and lead the Neff College of Business and Innovation,” Ritter said. “The college truly lives up to its name by championing forward-thinking and relevant business education in a rapidly changing world, and its commitment to transformative learning, innovative programming and strong partnerships with the business community make this a uniquely exciting moment to be part of its future. I look forward to working alongside the talented faculty, staff, students and community stakeholders to build on this momentum and further expand the college’s impact throughout the region and beyond.”
Ritter is an expert in organizational behavior and management, with extensive experience in consulting, researching and teaching on topics including emergent leadership, implicit leadership theory and human resource policies. She is credited with more than 100 presentations and publications in outlets such as the Journal of Applied Psychology, Human Relations and the Journal of Business Ethics.
As dean of Jacksonville University’s Davis College of Business and Technology since 2020, she has overseen substantial growth as the college expanded into three schools of Aviation and Military Sciences, Business and Communication, and Engineering and Technology. Over the same period, the college saw freshman enrollment increases of more than 200% in some programs, double-digit growth in graduate programs and noteworthy increases in undergraduate and graduate rankings in U.S. News & World Report.
“As I’ve gotten to know Dr. Ritter, I’ve been especially impressed by her leadership style and record of success at Jacksonville University,” said Dr. Mitchell S. McKinney, who also will join UToledo on July 14 to serve as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “I look forward to working with Barbara as we continue to grow and strengthen the classroom and industry experience opportunities available to our students in collaboration with business partners across the community.”
Ritter will succeed Dr. Anne Balazs, who previously announced her intention to step down at the end of the academic year. Balazs has served as dean since 2018.
“We are grateful to Dr. Balazs for her leadership and commitment to the Neff College of Business and Innovation,” said Dr. Scott Molitor, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Under her leadership, the college introduced innovative academic programs and courses and launched a major fundraising campaign to name the college in honor of one of its most prominent alumni. Anne leaves the college well-positioned for continued success.”
Prior to Jacksonville University, Ritter served as interim dean and dean of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration at Coastal Carolina University from 2013 to 2020. She had previously chaired its Department of Management and Decision Sciences.
Ritter serves on the board of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and her work as an educator has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society, which has awarded her its Peter J. Frost Mentoring Award, David L. Bradford Outstanding Educator Award and, most recently, its 2024 Susan Herman Service Award.
She holds a doctoral and master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from the University of Akron and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Grand Valley State University in Michigan.
