Western Kentucky University’s Gordon Ford College of Business is preparing for a new building and a new home on campus, and now the college is welcoming new leadership.
Dr. Evelyn Thrasher has been named as the new dean of WKU’s Gordon Ford College of Business.
Dr. Thrasher has served as the interim dean since July 2023. Previously, she was Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Administration and was a Professor of Analytics and Information Systems at the Gordon Ford College of Business.
“I cannot put into words what it means to be the new dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business. The GFCB and WKU have given me more than I deserve for the last 15 years,” said Dr. Thrasher. “The people of the Gordon Ford College of Business are special, and their work has a significant positive impact on our students and the region. As a first-generation college graduate, I have experienced firsthand the impact of a college education. The upward momentum of the GFCB inspires me, and I am excited about the opportunities to build upon that momentum as the College begins its next chapter.”
Dr. Thrasher holds a Ph.D. and MBA from Auburn University and an undergraduate degree from East Tennessee State University. Thrasher also has multiple scholarly contributions, including more than 20 published articles in academic journals, including Decision Support Systems, OMEGA, and Computers in Human Behavior. Additionally, she serves as an AACSB accreditation mentor and actively participates in the College’s outreach efforts through civic engagement and community service.
“We are pleased that Dr. Thrasher will continue her time at WKU as the dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business. During her WKU career, she has been a valuable member of our faculty, admired by students and colleagues alike. She is a collaborative leader and has demonstrated her commitment to the success of the GFCB and WKU, especially during her time as interim dean of the College. I have no doubt she will continue to advance the mission of GFCB and will provide unparalleled support for the College’s students, faculty, and staff,” said Provost Robert Fischer.
Dr. Thrasher’s tenure at WKU dates back to 2008, when she joined as an Assistant Professor in Information Systems. Throughout her time at the Gordon Ford College of Business, Dr. Thrasher has held various roles, including Associate Professor in Information Systems from 2013 to 2019, Director of the Professional Education and Knowledge Program from 2015 to 2018, and Knicely Faculty Fellow in Leadership from 2015 to 2019.
Before joining WKU, Dr. Thrasher was a faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth from 2005-2008. She began her career as a systems analyst for Eastman Chemical Company in Tennessee.
In April 2023, WKU announced plans for a new building to house Gordon Ford College of Business. The 113,000-square-foot building is being built on the space formerly occupied by Tate Page Hall.
“This innovative building celebrates the nearly 150-year history of business education in our region, while also marking an exciting new chapter for our beloved university,” said WKU President Timothy C. Caboni.
The new Gordon Ford College of Business will have a modern, flexible, open-space interior that supports active learning, academic innovation, curriculum enhancement, and a strong community. The spaces will more uniformly serve the needs of students, elevate the teaching and research of the faculty and staff, and support GFCB’s ongoing enrollment growth.
Dr. Thrasher succeeds Dr. Christopher Shook, who served as the dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business from 2019 to 2023. Thrasher will officially assume the permanent position on July 1.
The new Gordon Ford College of Business building is expected to be completed in the fall of 2025.
For more information, visit wku.edu/businesscollege.
