Next September, James Danko will begin his term as Dean of Commerce and Finance, two years after Dean Monahan stepped down from the position at the end of the 2002-2003 school year. Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. John R. Johannes, announced Danko’s appointment to this position on Thursday, April 7.

“I believe that he is a very good fit for the University for several reasons,” said Johannes. He said that Danko believes in a holistic style of teaching rooted mainly in the arts and sciences, and while he will be serving as the Dean of Commerce and Finance, this approach will help him better understand the business school in terms of the larger university.

“He is very concerned with the big picture,” said Johannes. “Danko certainly knows what he is doing when it comes to graduate work, which will help in the long run with the undergraduate and graduate programs.”

He said that Danko has “very broad experience” in higher education since he has worked at several major universities. He has spent the last 15 years working in higher education.

For more than five years, Danko has served as the associate dean for both Strategy and Operations and Executive Education at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth University.

“During his tenure at Dartmouth, Danko provided strategic management and direction for key departments including the MBA program, executive education, public relations, admission, career development fiscal services information technology, and human resources,” said Barbara Clement, communications and public affairs executive for the University, in a press release.

According to the press release, Danko has been credited with the expansion of a “number of strategies that have enhanced the reputation and recognition of Tuck in the national media.” Under Danko’s administration, Tuck has been placed in the top three in the first two surveys of corporate recruiters in the Wall Street Journal, has been named seventh in the Financial Times and has placed in the top ten in one edition of the U.S. and World News Report.

Prior to working in higher education, Danko was an entrepreneur having received his Bachelor’s degree in business from John Carroll University in Cleveland and his MBA from the University of Michigan. Danko took over Exercare, a medical products company specializing in wheelchairs and canes, after college. From 1973-1990, under Danko, the company grew from a one man organization to a large business. He also moved the point of focus from medical products to exercise machinery.

“Danko will be able to bring a practical knowledge of business as well as extensive knowledge of higher education to the position,” said Johannes.