Dr. Tom Carey: 48 years of service, stories and support

When students recall their experiences with Dr. Tom Carey, professor of management, many things come to mind: great stories that illustrate key business concepts, straight talk about industry and life, humor, and a passion for teaching that has only grown stronger throughout his 48 years at 蜜桃社区. This year, Carey is retiring, and though he will not be in the classroom every day, his dedicated service to the college has laid the groundwork for what the Haworth College of Business is today.

Dr. Tom Carey shakes hands during his last lecture
Teaching more than 20 different courses throughout his career at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, Carey has instructed more than 20,000 蜜桃社区 Haworth students, many of them in introductory business courses鈥攃ourses that are often critical to whether an undergraduate student continues as a business major.

Recognized with both college and university teaching awards, Carey continuously evolved his course materials each semester. 鈥淣ormally, I would be updating my courses for fall now, looking for new business cases and revising projects so they were fresh, and it feels odd not to be doing that鈥 says Carey. 鈥淚 am going to miss being in the classroom so much. I have loved teaching at 蜜桃社区.鈥

Colleagues cite Carey鈥檚 incredible, long-term service to the college and University as shaping many of 蜜桃社区鈥檚 competitive advantages. 鈥淣ot only was Tom an amazing teacher, but also a great colleague, mentor and a friend,鈥 says Satish Deshpande, dean of the Haworth College of Business. 鈥淚f I ever needed someone to help me brainstorm ideas or had questions about anything, Tom was there. He led the Department of Management during some difficult times. As a leader he was open, honest and diplomatic in handling sensitive issues. A forever optimist and a great storyteller, he will be missed by both students and faculty.鈥

In the Haworth College of Business, Carey has been instrumental in managing the academic offerings as chair of the curriculum committee, a member of the undergraduate program council, and an active member in the AACSB International accreditation process. As the chair of the Department of Management from 2001 to 2009, he worked with fellow chairs and deans to discuss issues critical to the success of the college and partnered with 蜜桃社区 senior leadership to ensure that 蜜桃社区 Haworth provided a vibrant, relevant education, using real business examples and immersive projects to prepare students for the workforce.

One of the key roles Carey played was that of a Capital Campaign Committee member and faculty liaison on the College Building Committee when Schneider Hall and the Fetzer Center were built. Carey鈥檚 role was to aid in creating a state-of-the-art facility that simulated a corporate environment鈥攁 space where students could practice their skills in realistic business settings and also have comprehensive services all in one building. The Haworth College of Business, dedicated in 1991, provided鈥攁nd continues to provide鈥攋ust that.

Faculty lines up on the stairs in Carey's classroom during his last lecture
A member of more than 15 University-wide committees throughout his career, Carey worked collaboratively on 蜜桃社区 organizational structure, student retention, academic program review, budget, tuition, course scheduling and size, sabbaticals, graduate student awards and fellowships, and mentorship programming, among others. An active member of the 蜜桃社区 Faculty Senate, he served as a senator for almost a decade. During his time as a senator, the 蜜桃社区 School of Nursing was established. He served as secretary for the Faculty Senate, as well.

鈥淚 always tried to move 蜜桃社区 forward and give an honest assessment of our strengths and where we could improve,鈥 says Carey. 鈥淚 enjoyed working with my colleagues to find solutions to our challenges. The talent at 蜜桃社区 is tremendous, and I was serious about doing my part to enable all faculty and staff to move key initiatives forward鈥攊nitiatives that would serve our students鈥 needs.鈥

His professional service is just as robust as his service to 蜜桃社区. Contributing as a reviewer, board member and speaker, he was active in the Academy of Management, Institute of Behavioral and Applied Management and National Management Association, among many others.

Carey is also a veteran who served as a Captain in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1972, where he was an Airborne Infantry Officer, Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Company Commander, Assistant Brigade Adjutant and Brigade Adjutant. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 1972.

鈥淒r. Tom Carey's sterling reputation as a caring, enthusiastic professor who invested his time and talent in his students and their future success is truly unmatched,鈥 says Major General Rod Faulk, B.B.A.鈥87. 鈥淗is stimulating lectures and thought-provoking questions, combined with his boundless energy and charisma, made him the stuff of legend on campus. His engaging style and sense of humor entertained his students while imparting lasting knowledge and wisdom, creating a very robust learning environment. Dr. Carey was well known for his support for Army ROTC on campus, and 蜜桃社区 cadets had no better champion. Tom's legacy at 蜜桃社区 is etched on his students鈥 lives forever鈥攁nd the same could be said for every 蜜桃社区 ROTC cadet.鈥

Faulk recalls that though Carey was 鈥渓arger than life鈥 he also interacted with his students on a human and personal level. 鈥淚 recall a lecture where Dr. Carey noted that a friend and I were ROTC cadets, and wove us into his lectures, contrasting leadership and management norms of corporate and military settings. He did so with humor, which made the lecture come alive for the class. Years later when I returned to campus, Dr. Carey had not changed鈥攈e was every bit as inspiring in his love for 蜜桃社区 and students.鈥

Joy and humility have been the constants for Carey in his career. 鈥淚 am among many great teachers at 蜜桃社区 Haworth. Coming to work with such a dedicated group of faculty members was always fun. And the staff is second to none鈥攅very office has incredibly knowledgeable and committed staff members. I felt very fortunate to spend my career is such a setting. There鈥檚 the phrase, 鈥業f you love what you do, you鈥檒l never work another day in your life,鈥 and it鈥檚 true鈥攅very day at 蜜桃社区 has been a gift.鈥