Faculty Focus

Cynthia Haliemun, Dean

Haliemun is dean of the Oakley School of Business at Quincy University, where she has been an associate professor for more than 20 years.

by Barbara Schleppenbach, PhD ’71

Please tell us about your education and career background, both before QU and since you have been here.

I came from Surabaya, Indonesia, where I worked for the University of Wisconsin-Madison project in the Surabaya Institute of Technology for three years. I graduated from Upper Iowa University with a bachelor's in business administration. I received my MBA and master’s in international affairs from Ohio University and my doctorate in economics from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. I worked as a systems analyst with a corporation in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with many projects from the Federal Aviation Administration. Then I was a product manager for a telecommunication company in Silver Spring, Maryland. In 1996, I became an assistant professor at Iowa Wesleyan College. I joined the QU faculty in 1998. Besides economics, I also teach international business and operations research. I became the dean of the School of Business in 2009-2012, associate dean 2012-2013, and dean again since 2013. I have also directed the MBA since 2013. I am a member of the American Economic Association (AEA), American Business Women Association (ABWA), and the Association for Integrity and Responsible Leadership in Economics and Associated Professions (AIRLEAP). -Cynthia Haliemun, Dean of the Oakley School of Business

Cynthia Haliemun has directed the Masters of Business Administration since 2013.

You are well known for working with student organizations in the Business Program. What are some highlights of that experience?

As the advisor of the CEO Club (Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization), I set the agenda to include fundraising, workshops, activities with YP (Young Professionals) as a partner, and visiting companies. A highlight of this experience is hosting local speakers (in-class and virtual). We have also attended the CEO National Conferences, where students networked with like-minded entrepreneurs from different schools, were mentored by seasoned experts and competed in business competitions.

How does participation in organizations prepare students for their careers?

Participation in organizations helps students develop life-long skills, such as teamwork, successful goalsetting, leadership, critical thinking, time management, and intellectual competence. For example, the main project of the CEO Club is the annual Halloween Haunted House. Students are divided into functional groups to make the event successful. They take leadership roles and learn to be accountable in managing various aspects of business organizations.

What are some of the innovations you are proud of in your career as Dean of the Oakley School of Business?

BUS 300 (Business Fundamentals) is a new 5-credit hour course offered without charge to non-business majors who want to learn about the basics of business.

Starting in Fall 2021, we launched a major in Business Analytics.

Business analytics help organizations to reduce risk by making decisions based on available data such as customer preferences and trends. By leveraging data, businesses can better understand consumer behavior and can gain insight into their competitors.

Since 2019, the MBA program has offered four concentrations:

General MBA, Organizational Leadership, Operations Management, and Health Care Administration. Each concentration can be completed within one year.

Tell us about representing QU through your involvement in the area community.

I am involved in and have previously served as chair of Quincy Tri-State Counselors to America’s Small Businesses (SCORE), a nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the Small Business Administration (SBA) that offers free and confidential mentoring and resources to aspiring business owners. Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce also supports SCORE. I am affiliated with YP (Young Professionals), which enables QU CEO members to participate in YP activities. On October 4, 2021, I was appointed as a member of the Mid-America Intermodal Port District Board by Governor J.B. Pritzker. The purpose of the port district is to foster economic growth in the tri-state area (Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa) by developing intermodal ports on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers making the region a strong logistics location.