FACULTY LEADER: MARILYN FOX, Ph.D.

BY AMANDA DYSLIN

Marilyn Fox, Ph.D., has worn so many hats in the College of Business — professor, chair of the management department, interim dean (twice), director of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, and director of Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation. Unofficially, she’s been a mentor to hundreds of students and a friend and confidant to numerous colleagues.

It’s hard to imagine she’ll be taking off some of those hats for good in May when she retires.

“There’s no question I’ll miss the students the most. It’s the students who keep you going. It’s the students who give you the positive motivation to do your best,” she said. “Having said that, over the years, I have worked with the most amazing colleagues as well.”

A Springfield, Mo., native, Dr. Fox was initially hired as a fixed-term faculty in the management department in 1983 before leaving to earn her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She returned to Minnesota State

We asked Dr. Fox about life as a Maverick all these years both, inside and outside the classroom.

What were your research interests?

Stress and health. For my dissertation, I did a major study in a medical center (St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Lincoln, Neb.) where we measured cortisol, the stressresponse hormone, through saliva. It was the first study ever done that way and was published in the Academy of Management Journal. I got famous real quick.

I kept that string going, and I’ve done a lot of work in that area, including research in leadership and personality differences.

Talk about a moment in a class that made you smile.

If you weren’t a professor, you would be:

I was involved in many sports growing up and into adulthood including softball, volleyball and tennis and often thought I might want to be a college coach someday.

In the summer, you like to:

I catch up on research a lot because I have time then. I also like to get outside, and I like to hike. My partner, Tina, and I hit about 20 state parks in past summers. I like to be outdoors as much as possible, have people over, barbecue, that kind of thing.

Favorite spot on campus:

What has been your teaching philosophy? How do you approach your relationship with students?

I was blessed with a personality, almost genetically, that is somewhat social. My relationships with students are extremely important. I learn from them as much as they learn from me. It’s a reciprocal relationship, and a trusted one, because we’re in this together.

I’ve got knowledge to give to you, but you do, too, so it’s an exchange. I design classes so the exchange is 75% of the class.

In one of my MBA classes several years ago, a student walked in and said, “Marilyn, I’m about to have a baby. It could be really soon.” I said, “Really? OK! You better go!” But she said, “I think I can make it through class,” and two hours later she finally decided she’d better go, and she went to the hospital and had that baby.

Did you have a favorite teacher growing up?

My fourth-grade teacher was a big influence. She was amazing. She was like a little grandmother. We used to have parent-teacher conferences, and I remember her telling my parents, “You just wait. She’s going to amount to something.” I also had amazing mentors in my Ph.D. program at the University of Nebraska.

The Hearth Lounge. It’s a place to sit and reflect.

Besides the students, what else will you miss about being a Maverick?

I’ll miss my colleagues, but then I’ll still see them. I appreciate them more than I could ever say. I think we’ll still be really close because we already are.