Judy Wiles, chairwoman and professor for the Department of Management and Marketing at Southeast Missouri State University, said Dean Gerald McDougall was the best boss she ever had.

“He empowered his people. He created a high level of trust,” said Wiles, who worked for McDougall for 24 years. “He trusted his chairpeople and department heads to make decisions. He was a positive and uplifting boss. He challenged us to experiment, think creatively.”

McDougall, dean of the Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University and prominent member of the university’s administrative team, died Sunday of natural causes, Southeast president Carlos Vargas-Aburto said Monday.

His death was unexpected.

Wiles said he had sent emails earlier Sunday.

Wiles said the university was in the process of hiring a new dean for the Harrison College of Business, and McDougall was planning to retire from the position he had held for 24 years.

“His hobbies were the college of business,” Vargas said. “He really was committed and passionate about the college.”

Vargas gave McDougall credit for building the college of business.

Vargas said McDougall helped business faculty achieve Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation, helped secure funding for Dempster Hall, established a nationally recognized Master of Business Administration degree program and several other programs, established the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, helped the university adopt new technologies for a variety of online courses and was a supporter of the establishment of the Catapult Creative House.

“His legacy will not be easily surpassed,” Vargas said.

Wiles and Willie Redmond, economics and business strategy professor at Southeast, said McDougall had a habit of writing inspirational notes to his staff, faculty members and students.

Redmond found a short letter thanking him for taking the time for a 2016 summer luncheon.

“He made the time to do that,” Wiles said.

Redmond said McDougall went out of his way to celebrate student achievements, particularly in business-related competitions.

“He’s been the biggest advocate for students,” Redmond said. “They know that he had that personal touch. He would always make it a point to have interactions with students.”

McDougall also served as associate provost for extended learning through February 2016.

Earlier in his career, McDougall served twice as interim provost and fulfilled two terms as vice president for advancement and executive director of the university foundation.

“He would step up the ladder, but his heart was in the college of business,” Redmond said.

Vargas said he prized McDougall’s intellect and felt he could reach out to him for advice.

“With somebody like him, it was so refreshing. He had no agenda, except making the university better,” Vargas said. “He was somebody who was quite impressive. He would listen to a conversation, let it evolve and then say, ‘Excuse me,’ and say two things of great importance. ... This is an immense loss for the university and the community. ... It’s hard to express in words the loss we’re feeling.”

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

bkleine@semissourian.com

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