Longtime Academic Leader Mercado Becomes Dean of Harmon College Jan. 1

By Jeff Murphy, November 17, 2018

WARRENSBURG, MO – A dedicated educator who has served the University of Central Missouri and its students since 1988 today was named dean of the Adrian and Margaret Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies (HCBPS). Jose Mercado, Ph.D., who currently serves as chair of the School of Business Administration: Division of Business Analytics, assumes this post Jan. 1, 2019.

"I am excited to have Dr. Jose Mercado serve as our next permanent dean in the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies,” said Mike Godard, UCM interim provost-chief learning officer. “His 30 years of experience at UCM and his commitment and passion to serve our students, faculty, and staff over the years in various leadership roles has prepared him extremely well to serve as the college dean.”

He added, “I have no doubt that he will do an outstanding job leading the college and build upon the outstanding work that Interim Dean Betsy Kreisel has provided. I would like to thank Dr. Kreisel for her willingness to serve as the interim dean over the past year and a half."

As Mercado begins his new role, Kreisel will return to her previous position as HCBPS’ associate dean.
Mercado became chair of the Department of Economics and Finance and the School of Accountancy in July 2016. He served in that position until June 2018. After academic reorganization, he became chair of the School of Business Administration: Division of Business Analytics in July.

In his role as chair, Mercado has provided leadership to seven undergraduate and three graduate academic programs in Accountancy, Big Data and Analytics, Computer Information Systems, Economics, Finance, International Business, and Risk Management and Insurance.

HCBPS houses several accredited and nationally renowned programs where students can immerse themselves in hands-on, real-world experiences. It includes the School of Aviation, School of Business Administration, School of Human Services, School of Public Services, Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, Missouri Safety Center, and the Welch-Schmidt Center for Communication Disorders.

“It is an honor to be selected as the new dean of the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies,” Mercado said. “We have very strong and unique academic programs and centers, excellent and caring faculty and staff members, and amazing and dedicated students. I look forward to my ongoing collaboration with all of them, continuing efforts to make the HCBPS a great place to work, and providing an excellent learning experience for our students.”

Mercado joined UCM as an assistant professor of finance in August 1988, and climbed the faculty ranks to become an associate professor in August 1992 and professor in 1999. During the 1998-1999 academic year, he served as a visiting associate professor of finance at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

His work at UCM also includes serving as director of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program from January 2013 to June 2015, and chair of the Department of Economics, Finance and Marketing from January 2012 to June 2016.  He has taught at least 13 different courses in HCBPS, in addition to a strong record of committee participation at all levels of academia. Mercado also has authored numerous research papers and published articles for professional journals.

Mercado’s education includes a doctorate in finance from Texas Tech University, MBA from Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas, and Bachelor of Business Administration from ITESM in Monterrey, Mexico.