Meet Richard Buttimer: Dean of the Belk College of Business
Richard Buttimer, dean of the Belk College of Business, has a strong record of success with broad-based experiences as a leader, researcher and educator operating in urban business schools. He began his tenure as dean July 1. Prior to serving as dean of the Coggin College of Business at the University of North Florida, he was a long-serving faculty member in UNC Charlotte’s Belk College.
Get to know Buttimer through the questions below, asked by Lynn Roberson, director of communications for the Belk College.
What attracted you to UNC Charlotte specifically?
What attracted me to return to UNC Charlotte is the promise of growth — growth in the great city of Charlotte, growth in our undergraduate and graduate programs and the commitment to growth in our research mission by having faculty in our classrooms who are dedicated to producing new, working knowledge through their research that makes a difference to the business community. To have the opportunity to be in a leadership role in that sort of environment is really exciting.
What three words do you believe best define your leadership style?
I focus on being open and transparent and also on being supportive to facilitate others’ greatness. That’s what energizes me. My goal is to provide the resources and the environment that our faculty and staff need to thrive, so that we can meet our collective mission of producing great research, preparing great students and fulfilling our service obligation to the University and community. I get excited about having the opportunity to pave the way for our faculty and staff to do great things. It genuinely excites me when I see our faculty publishing in the best academic journals, particularly with studies that address business and societal problems. It is rewarding when I see our staff members having the opportunity to do things that really are impactful for them. And, of course, I’m just thrilled to see the success that our students have, at all levels, from our undergrads all the way to our doctoral students.
What’s the best piece of advice you have received?
The best piece of advice I have received is to stay focused on continuous learning and on challenging yourself with new experiences.
You are headed to a deserted island. You can take a food, a drink, a book, a song and a movie. What are they and why?
The food and drink would be a hotdog and a soda. The book I would want with me would be “Practical Boat Building for Amateurs,” written by Adrian Neison. I really can’t narrow it down to just one song, because I enjoy so many styles of music. The movie I would take would be any movie about sports.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
During my free time, I enjoy being with my family, especially my wife Shirley Wright, who also is a Niner. When I can, I enjoy cycling. I also enjoy watching sports, and I look forward to attending as many Niners’ athletics competitions as I can.