Former business dean Sharp plans to retire
By Amy Geiszler-Jones
 Doug Sharp, a business faculty member for 31 years, stands on the steps of Clinton Hall, which houses the W. Frank Barton School of Business. As dean of the business school from 1977-90, he oversaw a lot of the changes that are now hallmarks of Kansas’ largest business school. |
By the time Doug Sharp ended his 13-year stint as business school dean in 1990, a lot had changed in the college. Sharp maintains he’s only one of many who are to be credited for the changes that occurred on his watch.
Sharp, associate professor of accountancy, plans to retire this spring after 31 years of teaching at WSU.
Through his leadership, the business college underwent changes in its teaching, research, service and even its name. The changes are a testament to his talent as a consensus builder. "I’ve gotten my kicks out of seeing whatever organization I’m in grow and develop," he said.
Here is just a sampling of what occurred between 1977-90 when Sharp was dean:
- The school reorganized its majors, more
than doubling the number of areas of study and adding what were unique
ones then in the fields of international business and entrepreneurship.
The School of Accountancy also was formed and became one of the first
in the nation to offer an accountancy program in which students earned
both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees after five years.
- The Center for Entrepreneurship formed
as one of the first such centers devoted to what was then, in 1977,
a relatively unknown field.
- Faculty research was emphasized and
grew two-fold.
- The school was renamed the W. Frank Barton School of Business after a $12 million gift, the largest in WSU’s history, was secured to help the school grow.
A newspaper clipping called him "the driving force behind the launch of the statewide Small Business Development Centers program."
He said a lot of the changes happened because he saw potential.
"I think this is a school that has so much potential. It had it when I got here, and it still has a lot of potential." He’s also a firm believer in that an organization needs a strong vision, which is another trait he brought as dean.
He’s brought that same kind of vision to his current position as director of the School of Accountancy, which he has held since November 1997.
In two years, he’s reorganized the faculty into a leaner one but one that has more PhDs teaching, and has helped do a major revision of the curriculum. He’s also helped improve enrollments, with student credit hours increasing 14 percent this fall semester.
While he originally had an interest in law school, he studied accountancy on the recommendation of a friend who suggested he become a tax lawyer. He said he’s never regretted his decision to alter course and go into teaching instead.
Since returning to full-time teaching, he’s also been active as the adviser for the honorary student organization Beta Alpha Psi. In 1999, he was named outstanding faculty adviser by the national Beta Alpha Psi organization. In 1996, he added the Educator Appreciation Award from WSU’s Mortar Board chapter to his list of accomplishments.
Just as he did at the university, Sharp is looking to take on new challenges in retirement. Once he moves to his retirement home outside Branson, Mo., he plans to take up golf, buy a boat and get more active in woodworking.
"I’ve got my rod and reel, so I’m ready to go. And if I get bored, I’ll go greet at Wal-Mart," he quipped.
