Ag News

ABAC names new dean of Stafford School of Business

On Jan. 23, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) announced the appointment of Dr. Yasemin Öcal Atinc as dean of the Stafford School of Business, bringing two decades of academic leadership, innovative program development, and extensive global teaching experience to the role. Her first day in the role will be Feb. 16.

“On behalf of the ABAC community, I welcome Dr. Atinc as the new dean of the Stafford School of Business. I am confident she will continue its positive trajectory which includes the recently announced ACBSP accreditation and the new Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership," ABAC President Tracy Brundage said. “We’re also proud that our students now have the option to choose between three concentrations in the Bachelor of Science in Business: general business, economics, and management. Combining Dr. Atinc’s leadership with this momentum, the SSB is well positioned to advance its mission, expand its reach, and continue building a culture of excellence under her stewardship.”

Dr. Yasemin Öcal Atinc / Photo courtesy of ABAC

Dr. Atinc joins ABAC from East Texas A&M University, where she most recently served as chief academic officer for extended sites, overseeing four campuses and guiding initiatives in strategic planning, enrollment management, curriculum development, budgeting, personnel, and community partnerships. Her leadership has been widely recognized for strengthening academic operations and fostering collaborative, student-centered environments. During her tenure at East Texas A&M University, Dr. Atinc also served as faculty senate president, successfully leading multiple governance, curriculum, strategic planning, and budget initiatives. She represented the institution on both the A&M System Faculty Senate and the Texas Council of Senates, contributing to shared governance at the state and system levels.

Her previous appointments include roles at Auburn University at Montgomery, Louisiana Tech University, Grambling State University, and Anadolu Bil Vocational School of Higher Education in Istanbul, where she also served as department head of management. In that role, she led curriculum development, accreditation reporting, European Union project involvement, and major departmental administrative responsibilities.

The Stafford School of Business was recently awarded the prestigious Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) accreditation, which ABAC announced on Jan. 8. The accreditation is good for 10 years.

ACBSP accreditation brings several positive outcomes to the ABAC business community and Stafford School of Business (SSB), according to retiring Interim Dean Franzelle Mathis-Pertilla, who said the accreditation strengthens the school’s credibility and enhances its graduates’ employability, as well as helping the Tifton school boost enrollment, attract faculty and cultivate strategic partnerships.

“This accreditation is a powerful affirmation of the quality of education our students receive at the Stafford School of Business,” Brundage said. “It tells our students and their future employers that ABAC graduates are prepared, competitive, and equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce. This recognition reinforces the high caliber of our faculty, curriculum, and graduates.”

---

• Categories:

• Tags:

---