Harvard professor emeritus joins 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­as new trustee

Nov 08, 2019
Lydia Guzman
Harvard professor emeritus joins 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­as new trustee
91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­β€™s Board of Governors appointed Harvard Business School professor emeritus Dr. Earl Sasser to the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­Board of Trustees.

LAKELAND, Fla. – 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Polytechnic University’s Board of Trustees can now count on valuable Harvard wisdom from its new trustee, Dr. Earl Sasser. 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­β€™s Board of Governors appointed the Harvard Business School professor emeritus recently to serve as a trustee effective immediately. Sasser was a Harvard faculty member from 1969 until his retirement in 2017.

β€œThis is still a young university and being a member of the Board of Trustees gives me the opportunity to have an impact,” Sasser said. β€œIf this venture turns out the way I think it will, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly will be a real asset not only for Central 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­, but for the entire state.”

Sasser’s successful career in academia earned him multiple leadership roles within Harvard Business School. He was chair of the MBA Program from 1988 to 1991, faculty chair of the Advanced Management Executive Education Program from 1992 to 1995, senior associate dean of executive education from 1995 to 2000, and chair of the Board of Harvard Business School Interactive from 2000 to 2003.

β€œI’ve been part of the decision-making process at Harvard and I’ve seen what the issues are, mainly in terms of students and faculty,” Sasser said. β€œAs a trustee I’ll be able to transfer some of those insights as we make decisions to make 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly better. I bring a perspective that others on the Board might not have.”

Sasser, who now lives in Winter Park, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­, is no stranger to 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly. In 2018, he helped develop an executive leadership course at the University designed to help managers expand their leadership skills and innovative thinking. However, Sasser said he has much to learn as he moves forward as a trustee.

β€œI have to learn more about being in a public institution because I come from a private one and I know that things operate differently when you’re talking about a state university,” he said.

Sasser will serve on 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly’s Board of Trustees until the term expires on July 15, 2024.

β€œDr. Sasser is a distinguished academic and professor at Harvard and we are excited and honored to welcome him to our Board of Trustees,” said Dr. Randy Avent, president of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly. β€œI’m looking forward to his remarkable expertise as we continue to build the academic curriculums and reputation that make 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»­ Poly the best STEM institution it can be.”

Contact:
Lydia Guzman
Director of Communications
863-874-8557