The new dean of Christopher Newport University’s Luter School of Business, Anna W. Hickey, aims to build on the school’s legacy.
Hickey succeeds Alan Witt, who retired in July after four years of leading the school. Prior to coming to CNU, Hickey retired as a captain from the U.S. Coast Guard after serving 28 years. Her last assignment was as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s vice provost for academic administration.
The dean’s experience includes accounting and accounting education, budgets and government financial reporting. A member of the Association of Government Accountants, she’s served as a reviewer for the Journal of Accounting Education.
CNU President William G. Kelly, a past superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy, said, “Dr. Hickey has a long and distinguished career of service to our country through military and higher education leadership positions. She will be an exceptional addition to our Christopher Newport campus and an exceptional leader, teacher and scholar.”
What drew her to CNU is the school’s liberal arts and leadership foundation. Combining the two provides for a holistic approach to business education and connecting with others, she said.
“The liberal arts are about developing,” Hickey said.
When students study subjects such as language and history, they develop skills that, when mixed with a business education, makes for capable college graduates, she said.
As far as the ever-changing business climate with artificial intelligence, Hickey cautioned that AI will not replace human judgment. She stressed the importance of critical thinking and decision-making skills.
The Luter School’s accolades also got Hickey’s attention. The business school ranks among the nation’s top 80 undergraduate programs, according to Poets & Quants, a business education news website. The school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, a distinction earned by only 6% of business schools worldwide.
“It’s vibrant. It’s at a point where there’s a really strong foundation. It is very evident that engagement is the mantra of the faculty,” Hickey said.
That engagement includes faculty maintaining relationships with graduates. Business professionals and alumni offer mentorships and internships, which further enhance the program.
“The values at Christopher Newport University — honor, service, scholarship and leadership — align with my values and I am thrilled to be in a position to contribute to CNU achieving its vision of being the No. 1 regional public university in the nation,” Hickey said.