DeCenzo named provost at Coastal Carolina University
University officials decided to form a screening committee to consider qualified candidates from within the organization, according to Coastal President Ronald R. Ingle. The committee was chaired by College of Natural and Applied Sciences interim dean Joan Piroch and included representatives from each of the university's four colleges, the library and other campus constituencies.
“That group held interviews and unanimously recommended Dr. DeCenzo for the permanent position of Provost,” said Ingle.
The provost serves as the chief academic officer of the university. Departments that report to the provost are: the deans of Coastal's four academic colleges; Kimbel Library; Administration and Academic Student Services; Grants, Contract Administration and Research Planning; Graduate Studies; Enrollment Services; Information Technology Services; and Institutional Research and Assessment.
“There's a great sense of excitement and accomplishment at Coastal now, and I am honored to take a leadership role in moving the university to the next level,” said DeCenzo.
Peter B. Barr will step down as provost and senior vice president of Coastal to take a new position as president of Glenville State College in Glenville, W.Va.
“I am delighted that Dr. DeCenzo has been selected,” said Barr. “ He has proven himself to be a highly effective dean and is not a newcomer to Coastal. Dave knows the students and faculty, and I am confident that he will do a superb job.”
DeCenzo has been at Coastal since 2002 when he took over leadership of the Wall College of Business. Since then, the college has established an economics major and developed an MBA program that begins this fall. During that period, student enrollment and faculty positions have doubled. The college has also established significant internship opportunities locally, nationally and internationally in major Fortune 100 companies.
He is the co-author of two top-rated management textbooks, “Fundamentals of Management: Essential Concepts and Applications” and “Supervision Today: the Ultimate Guide to Front-line Management.” These books, both co-written with Stephen R. Robbins, professor emeritus of San Deigo State University, have dominated the market for undergraduate-level management textbooks since they were first introduced in 1995 and have been translated in several languages.
Before joining the Coastal faculty in 2002, DeCenzo served as director of partnership development in the College of Business and Economics at Towson University in Maryland. He is an experienced industry consultant, corporate trainer and public speaker.
DeCenzo earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Maryland College Park and a master's degree and Ph.D. from West Virginia University.
DeCenzo and his wife, Terry, have five children.