Getting to know Dr. Amy Dubois, the new Dean of the Cook School of Business

Dr. Amy Dubois says one of the greatest joys of her life has been teaching in the Cook School of Business at Columbia International University for the past 10 years. “The faculty, staff, and students are a tremendous blessing. It is a huge privilege to be a part of the CIU family,” she adds.

Now, Dubois is excited to lead the business program as its new dean. She was named to the post on Jan. 1 replacing Dr. Scott Adams who took a position with an international manufacturing company in Columbia.  

Dubois earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University, an MBA from Baylor University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from CIU. Get know more about her in this Q&A:

What drew you to teaching?

I come from a family of educators. My mom was an elementary teacher. My dad taught welding in college, and my sister is also a college professor. Growing up around it made it something I've always considered. However, the most accurate answer is that God drew me to teaching. Looking back, I can see that God paved the way for me to be here.

What is your experience in business?

Most of my experience is in nonprofit/church leadership. Additionally, I served as a customer relationship manager for a magazine headquartered in Texas. My role gave me the opportunity to travel all over the United States and build relationships with potential and current customers. It opened doors to experience many exciting venues such as Broadway shows in New York and The Blue Man Group in Las Vegas. This is one reason I love business — it can open doors to so many different opportunities. I tell people that studying business provides an excellent foundation for so many different careers. It also allows you to connect to your passions. Love music, but aren't a musician? Work for a record label. Love football, but aren't athletic? Work in marketing for the NFL. Business can open the door to almost anything!

What are your plans and goals as dean?

We have a GREAT team of professors in the Cook School of Business. One thing I hope to do is leverage their unique gifts and wisdom to maximize our student experience. Each one brings something really special to the table and is an invaluable part of educating our Business students from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ!

I am most excited about developing our Summer Study Abroad program. Plans are well underway for our first opportunity at CIU’s Korntal, Germany campus. Students spend a month in Germany immersed in a different culture while earning six credit hours toward their degree. We will visit local businesses and have additional opportunities to travel and explore Europe on the weekends. While the Cook School of Business hosts the program, it will be open to any CIU student. It will be an incredible opportunity.

Will you still teach? / What is your favorite subject to teach? 

I love teaching and can't imagine not being in the classroom. I am notorious for saying that every class is my favorite, but the first is Finance. I am very passionate about equipping our students to be good stewards of the resources God entrusts us with on this side of heaven. We start every class with a prayer focused on having a biblical mindset about money and investing. We talk very intentionally and often about the dangers of money and how easy it is to fall in love with money. However, if we understand a biblical perspective of money and stewardship along with sound financial principles and practices, it can be a powerful tool in the hands of believers for kingdom work! Our students will be equipped to make wise financial decisions personally and professionally.

Tell us a little about your family.

I am married to David DuBois, and we have four fantastic boys, Gavin, Elijah, Axel and Tucker. David retired from the military after 20 years and has a purple heart (I like to brag about him). My favorite time is dinner each night as we sit and talk together. We adopted through foster care and are passionate about foster care and adoption. Additionally, David and I love being married. Marriage is such a blessing. Working at CIU has allowed us to share our passion for marriage with many young couples through pre-marriage counseling. It is another thing we love doing.

What do you like to do for recreation?

In addition to my role at CIU, I work as the student and young adult director at Hope Church Columbia. I have been involved in student ministry for over 20 years, and I love it! 

Where will a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration take you? Request information on enrollment by contacting Admissions at (803) 807-5024 or admissions@ciu.edu.

CIU is celebrating 100 years of its mission to “educate people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ.” The university consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a Best Value Regional University in the South.