Robinson College of Business appoints new dean

Dr. Richard D. Phillips assumed the position of dean of the Georgia State Robinson College of Business on July 1, according to a Georgia State news release.

David Buechner, director of the Risk Management & Insurance department at the Robinson College, is confident in Phillips’ ability to move the college forward.

“I think he is going to be comfortable being a spokesperson for the college and university and getting the camera’s turned in the right direction. Right direction means in our direction,” Buechner said.

Phillips served as chair of the RMI Department in 2006. Since 2012, he also served as the associate dean of academic initiatives and innovation for the college, according to the release.

“He accomplished a great deal when he was the Department Head in the RMI. In fact ‘Go Rich Go’ was the buzzword in the department for years,” Buechner said.

Phillips led the department in changing its focus from the area of insurance to a broader study of risk that involves individuals, organizations, and society, according to the release.

Phillips has a Ph.D. in insurance and finance. He is also a member of the board of the American Risk and Insurance Association, according to his profile on the department’s page.

His areas of research include financial risk management practices of insurers, financial pricing models of insurance, and various regulatory issues related to the insurance industry, according to his profile on the department’s page.