by John Michael O'Leary
Dr. Cathy Carey has plenty to do. As new dean of the Romain College of Business, her schedule is full. She’s getting acclimated to the school and the reins of leadership—not to mention dealing with the work of relocation and settling into a new home. She admits a reluctance to talk about herself, but she also believes in transparency and agreed to an interview. We think you will enjoy getting to know her. We certainly have. - Editors
Editor: Dean Carey, let’s start with a good, old, Southern Indiana question. Where are you from?
Dean Carey: I grew up in Millersburg, just outside Paris, Kentucky, on a 300-acre farm; my parents raised cattle and grew tobacco. I learned what hard work is, especially with tobacco—a very labor-intensive crop. But I enjoyed farm life. I even had my own tractor and earned money by doing work for other local farmers.
Editor: Where did you go to school?
Dean Carey: I attended high school in Paris, Bourbon County High School. After high school I stayed close to home, enrolling at University of Kentucky to study business.
Editor: Your post-graduate degrees are in economics. What led you to that area of study?
Dean Carey: I tell people that accounting turned me into an economist. (Laughs.) Seriously, though, I was so enjoying the economics courses required for my accounting major that I shifted my focus—and I fell in love with economics. It’s said that if you like what you do, you never work a day in your life. That’s how it has been for me with economics.
Editor: Do you subscribe to a particular school of economic thought?
Dean Carey: I like to play devil’s advocate—help people see both sides of an argument and draw their own conclusions. In the classroom, I always tried to keep politics out of discussions and to present classical and Keynesian thought with similar emphases. I wanted students to make up their own minds. At the end of the term I would ask them to tell me whether they thought I was a classical or Keynesian. The results were typically fifty-fifty. I took that to mean I was doing a good job.
Editor: How did you get interested in teaching as a profession?
Dean Carey: While in college if I wasn’t working I would be at school, studying. I guess I was hanging around the Economics Department so much that they decided to put me to work there—first as a research assistant, then as a teaching assistant. I really love teaching, so I will have to get used to not being in the classroom. I take consolation in that I can support and challenge others who are, and I can help them make a difference for students.
Editor: As a teacher yourself, what do you need from your faculty? Or, what do you think they need from you?
Dean Carey: I have respect for and great faith in our faculty. They are crucial to our mission, and they should feel empowered to work our strategic plan. I want them to know they have a big voice in the direction of the College, that their innovation and forward-thinking is needed. I aim to be a good listener—and completely transparent and clear in communicating my expectations.
Editor: What are your expectations?
Dean Carey: I expect us to strengthen the College’s distinction—and to make more people aware of it. For example, our accounting students have one of the highest pass rates in the nation on the CMA exam. It puts us in the company of some big and prestigious names—Cornell, University of Wisconsin and University of Michigan.
Most important, our College holds AACSB accreditations for both business and accounting degree programs. This dual accreditation is a hallmark of excellence; fewer than one in 50 business colleges worldwide have it. But the credentials are not a given; we have to continually earn them. And we will.
Editor: How goes the settling in here in southern Indiana? Do you miss the fields of bluegrass?
Dean Carey: Well, it just so happens my relocation coincides with several big changes for the Carey Clan. Both of our sons’ families have recently moved and our daughter is off to college. So we are new empty-nesters. The good news, my husband is moving up here in September and bringing the pets.
Editor: You’re an animal lover?
Dean Carey: We have two dogs, a cat, five rabbits and three horses—Ty, Sam and Annie. We had to make a difficult choice with Ty. He foundered one day, and the vet told us it was highly unlikely he would ever get back on his feet. We decided not to put him down, but to nurse him back to health if we could. It’s been a year and a half, but his hooves have grown back and he can be ridden again.
Editor: Wow. Is there anything else you would like readers to know?
Dean Carey: I am excited and honored to work with the outstanding faculty and staff in the Romain College of Business and to serve on the leadership team for USI. As we put student success at the center of our attention, we expect great things will follow for our students, faculty and the community.
Editor: Thank you, Dean Carey. It’s been a pleasure talking.
Dean Carey: You’re welcome, and thank you.
The Carey Clan at a recent gathering to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Carey’s father and stepmother. Seated (L to R): Joanna Carey, daughter; Cathy Carey; Mackenzie Carey and Lindsay Carey, daughters-in-law. Standing (L to R): Damion Lee, Joanna’s fiancé; Bruce Carey, husband; Brandon Carey and Kevin Carey, sons.