With the start of every fall semester, there are new faces to be seen around campus. Some belong to freshmen, trying to find their way in this exciting world of college. Others belong to transfer students, who are just learning about the traditions of Midwestern State. The university this semester, however, welcomes two deans: Terry Patton, dean of the Dillard College and Lynn Little, dean of College of Science and Mathematics.

Born in Dallas, but claiming Plano as his hometown, Little’s passion for academics is evident by the five academic degrees he holds, as well as a post-doctoral internship with Harvard Medical.

“Going to school is a hobby,” Little joked.

Although Little may be the new kid on the block at Midwestern State, he is not new to the realm of academia and the leadership roles. He has taught at six different universities through the course of his career, including Howard Payne University and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

It was during his time at Howard Payne University that Little first became acquainted with president Jesse Rogers, when Rogers was an invited speaker. Little had visited MSU a year before while attending an EPA-compliance training, but the meeting with Rogers sealed his enchantment with MSU.

“I fell in love with the campus and I felt that he [Rogers] would be a great person to work for,” Little said. “Then when I learned that the position of Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics was being advertised, I decided to apply.”

In addition to his academic career, Little has worked with the State of Texas in the capability of the director of microbiological Services in Austin, as well as the Centers for Disease Control.

Little said he has clear goals for the College of Science and Mathematics.

“I want to see us [the College] enjoy steady growth while maintaining or increasing our quality in all areas,” Little said. “I want to see the faculty, staff and students receive the resources that they need to accomplish their individual and collective goals.”

As the dean of the Dillard College of Business Administration, practical experience is the name of the game for Patton.

Serving as a professor at MSU for five years, Patton has teaching experience at both Texas Tech University and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and is already familiar face around the campus.

With additional experience as a research manager at the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and the new publication of his textbooks, Introduction to Government and Not-For-Profit Accounting, Patton said he knows how to be successful and how to be a key instrument in the growth of his students.

Midwestern State’s continuous strive for the betterment of their students is what reinforced Patton’s interest in the university.

“With the things we were doing to improve the education of our students, I saw this and thought that I would like to be a part of building something at this scale at a small university that will really help and effect our

students, I saw this and thought that I would like to be a part of building something at this scale at a small university that will really help and effect our students education in a positive way,” said Patton.

Hailing from Wichita Falls, the Robert Madera Distinguished Professor of Accounting said he has clear cut goals for his college.

“I want our college to provide a good education for our students, as well as provide them with the skills that are needed for entry level employment,” Patton said.

Patton considers his focus on practicality as an important marketing point for attracting new students to the College of Business Administration, citing such amenities as the Security Trading and Research Lab, which give students real experience by simulating a trading floor for investments.

“Each area of our mission statement is a selling point.” Patton said. “My goal is to make each area well-rounded.”

Keeping this goal of real world, practical experience in mind, Patton said he wants to place an emphasis on developing focus groups, research studies and nonprofits.

One example of this practicality would be the upcoming marketing project later in the term, in which students will work to come up with a marketing campaign for a local Texoma Chevrolet dealership.

Such campaigns are in line with what Patton said he wanted to be his legacy.

“I think that leaving behind successful students and graduates and leaving structures in place for the continuous faculty success is the biggest legacy I ask for,” he said.