Richard J. Buttimer Jr. named dean of the Belk College of Business | News







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Buttimer will begin his role as the Belk College of Business Dean on July 1.




Richard J. Buttimer Jr. was named the Belk College of Business dean on Wednesday, May 1, after being approved by the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees. He will begin his role on July 1. 

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jennifer Troyer said Buttimer brings a wealth of experience to the position. 

“Richard (Buttimer) has built a strong record of success with broad-based experiences as a leader, researcher and educator operating in urban business schools,” said Troyer in the announcement. “He has advanced research opportunities to address business and societal challenges, engaged and supported talented faculty and staff and developed innovative partnerships to enhance the student experience. We are fortunate to have such a creative leader to guide the Belk College and to partner with the business community.”

Buttimer comes to Charlotte after spending four years as the dean of the Coggin College of Business at the University of North Florida (UNF) in Jacksonville. Under his leadership, UNF expanded its interdisciplinary research and collaborative partnerships and created industry-responsive centers, labs and fields of study. 

Buttimer led the process for UNF’s successful renewal of the AACSB accreditation and created a new master’s in the business analytics program. 

Before working at UNF, Buttimer was a Charlotte Belk College faculty member. He was the John Crosland Sr. Distinguished Professor of Real Estate and Development at Charlotte. He also served as a senior associate dean for the Belk College and was the associate dean for faculty and research.

Buttimer said it feels good to be back and ushering in a new era. 

“Belk College is well-positioned to extend its already impressive reach in the region and beyond,” said Buttimer in the announcement. “Our work will be critical as the University moves to the highest research designation next year and as industry and business schools harness artificial intelligence and other technologies as useful tools. These are among the many opportunities the college has to fulfill its vision as a leading urban research business school that creates usable knowledge and prepares students to succeed in a dynamic world.”

Buttimer’s academic research examines mortgage finance, real estate development and housing markets. He has been published in multiple scholarly journals such as Real Estate Economics, The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics and Regional Science and Urban Economics. 

Buttimer has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in real estate finance, real estate capital markets, financial management, corporate finance, financial derivatives and fixed-income derivatives. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association. 

Buttimer has a bachelor’s degree in finance and earned his Ph.D. in business administration with a focus on real estate from the University from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business and is a Phi Kappa Phi honor society member.