Annette Ranft

Annette L. Ranft joined the Harbert College of Business as its eighth dean on August 1, 2018. Ranft received her doctorate in Strategic Management at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research has been published in top journals, including the Academy of Management Review, the Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science, the Journal of International Business Studies, and the Journal of Management. She has served on the editorial board of the Strategic Management Journal and as associate editor for the Journal of Management. Her Google Scholar page lists her research publications.

Prior to joining Auburn University, she served as dean and Steve P. Zelnak, Jr., Chair at North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management. She has served on the faculty at Wake Forest University and at West Virginia University. She chaired the department of management at Florida State University and served as associate and senior associate dean at the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business.

The Wall Street Journal named Ranft to its list of top female business school administrators—one of 11 “shining stars” designated by the national news outlet. Before entering academia, Ranft worked as a systems consultant for AT&T and as an account manager for EDS.

Areas of Expertise

• Merger and acquisition integration
• Acquisitions of high-tech firms
• Strategic leadership and corporate governance

Education

• phd UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School (1993 — 1997)
• MS Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business (1988 — 1990)
• BS Appalachian State University (1982 — 1986)