Letter from the Dean

Frank Rudisill, Ph.D.  Dean

 Welcome to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business-accredited George Dean Johnson, Jr., College of Business and Economics. The prestigious international AACSB accreditation is globally recognized as the seal of excellence in business education. Fewer than five percent of the world’s business schools have earned AACSB accreditation.

Our mission at the Johnson College is to provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to both embark on a successful career path in the global economy and to further your education in graduate business programs. Our rigorous business education incorporates experiential learning opportunities and personalized attention from our dedicated faculty and professional staff. Students of the Johnson College benefit from first class student services at “The George” (as the downtown building is affectionately called) as well as at the USC Upstate Greenville campus. These services include academic advising, career counseling, a variety of active student organizations and honor societies, and numerous programs that support leadership and soft skills development. Additionally, the Johnson College prides itself on strategic partnerships that promote internships, community engagement, and professional networking activities, as well as exciting study abroad opportunities around the globe. 

Our diverse faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for their scholarly accomplishments as well as for their real-world business experience with firms such as Milliken & Company, BMW Manufacturing Co., Price Waterhouse Coopers, Duke Energy, KPMG, Fuji Film and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Johnson College enrolls about 800 students from 18 states and 11 countries. Our program leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and students may choose from concentrations in Accounting, Economics and Finance, General Business, Management, or Marketing. We also offer minors in Business Administration, Business and Entrepreneurship, and Economics. All our classes are taught by highly qualified and engaged faculty who are active in teaching, research, advising, professional careers, and/or community enrichment projects.

Our strategic location in the heart of dynamic downtown Spartanburg provides students with opportunities to connect with the business community while enjoying the vibrant community at large. Students appreciate our proximity to multiple cultural and artistic venues that include Barnet Park, South Carolina’s first food co-op, shopping, and a variety of outstanding eateries within walking distance. With everything that the Johnson College has to offer and all the exciting new developments happening in our downtown community, it is no wonder that students truly enjoy learning in our state-of-the-art 60,000 square-foot, $30-million facility, which features a stock trading lab, smart classrooms, and three art galleries with rotating exhibits from The Johnson Collection.

We are in an exciting time of change and opportunity, both at the University of South Carolina Upstate and within the Johnson College of Business and Economics. Our journey to the next level of excellence is guided by aspiring goals in innovative academic program development, enhancement in student services, community engagement expansion, alumni involvement, AACSB accreditation maintenance, and quality improvement and innovation in teaching and scholarship.

When you join the Johnson College, you will receive the well-rounded, hands-on education that today’s global business world demands. Moreover, you will become part of an academic family that will support you in becoming a force of progress in your community and in the world.

I invite you to peruse our webpage to find out more about the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics and the exciting programs we offer. I welcome you to contact me or any of our dedicated staff members to schedule a meeting or to request additional information.

I look forward to seeing you soon at the Johnson College, where a genuine level playing field ensures that any committed student can succeed.

Sincerely,

Frank Rudisill, Ph.D. 

George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics
864-503-5111