Bowling Green, Ky. - William J. Tallon has been named dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business at Western Kentucky University.

Dr. Tallon’s appointment was announced during WKU’s Board of Regents meeting in Frankfort today, which was followed by resolutions on the House and Senate floors in honor of the centennial at WKU and at Eastern Kentucky University.

Dr. Tallon is currently the interim dean of the College of Business at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. He will begin at WKU on July 1, replacing retiring dean Robert Jefferson.

"The Gordon Ford College of Business is well positioned to become the premier provider of business education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Dr. Tallon said. “I am very proud of the opportunity to have a major role in leading the Ford College to new levels of excellence. I am looking forward to joining WKU and the Gordon Ford team to continue to build on the fine accomplishments of Dean Robert Jefferson.”

Dr. Tallon has been with Northern Illinois since joining the faculty of the Department of Operations Management and Information Systems in 1990. He became chair of the department in 1992, associate dean of the College of Business in 2001 and interim dean in 2005.

While at NIU, Dr. Tallon directed the process for maintaining accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International; led the initiative for the integrations of business ethics in the undergraduate and graduate curriculums; managed the re-design of the undergraduate program in business administration; and directed the strategic planning initiative that enabled a donor gift of more than $20 million for a new home for the College of Business, Barsema Hall.

"We look forward to Dr. Tallon’s arrival,” WKU President Gary Ransdell said. “His leadership will be critical to the pace which our Gordon Ford College of Business sets for our regional business community. He brings superb talent and experience to our faculty and students and to our Commonwealth.”

Dr. Tallon earned his doctorate in business administration from the University of Iowa. He also has a master of business administration and bachelor’s degree in management from Northern Illinois.

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