Ira Bates has been selected to serve as interim dean of the School of Business and Industry at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. His appointment follows the reassignment of former dean, Shawnta Friday-Stroud, who returned to a full-time faculty position.
In 2001, Dr. Bates began his career with FAMU as an associate professor of accounting. In addition to his teaching role, he has served as chair of the department of accounting and finance since 2008. With a background in both higher education and industry, he has a wide range of academic interests including accounting education, financial accounting, managerial finance, auditing, and consumer behavior.
Dr. Bates is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where he majored in business management. He holds an MBA from the University of the Philippines and a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Arkansas.