Getting to Know TAMIU's New Dean of the A. R. Sánchez, Jr. School of Business
Dr. Luis Pérez-Batres has served as the Dean of the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) A. R. Sánchez, Jr. School of Business for five months so far. In this brief period, he has already started a dynamic journey, affirming the Sánchez School's integral role in the fast-evolving economic landscape of Laredo and South Texas.
Under Dr. Pérez-Batres' leadership, the School of Business is poised to optimize and stand on its current strengths to support and advance TAMIU's vision of becoming a premier international University.
"Our immediate and top priority is to deliver on this ideal," he said, "In doing so, the Sánchez School of Business actively engages with the business community through its many centers of excellence and programs."
He emphasized, "During this very academic year, we have already interfaced with key members of the community, received meaningful support for the establishment of our new Banking Academy, hosted and invited world-renowned scholars, taken steps to continue our AACSB accreditation, planned new action-based learning and innovative pedagogy protocols, and supported academic research."
He continued, "In short, we have taken steps toward becoming a premier international business school by prioritizing the creation and dissemination of knowledge and cultivating the support of our business community, academic peers, and accrediting bodies."
The School of Business plans to build upon its existing strengths by launching new programs and initiatives, Dr. Pérez-Batres said.
"The first step is to ensure that our Sanchez School team receives complete support to continue flourishing professionally and deliver on our mission by enabling our students and business community to achieve success," he said, "Easily identifiable strengths include student and community engagement through our programs and centers of excellence, faculty research prowess, and the high commitment of our staff—administrators and advisors. The second step is to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our students and the business community. To restate, we must create and maintain an environment where we continue to flourish."
TAMIU's goal to become an R2 institution will further enhance TAMIU's reputation by recognizing the University's commitment to research excellence, Dr. Pérez-Batres said.
"The Sanchez School of Business readily supports this initiative," he said, "Our faculty’s research prowess compares very well to most R2 schools and some R1s. Likewise, we are very proud of our PhD students’ research and successful placement. We graduated 10 students in Management and Finance during the previous two academic years."
He continued, " With corresponding resources, the Sanchez School of Business could further support TAMIU’s bid for R2 status by accepting Ph.D. students in our Accounting and MIS and Data Analytic Ph.D. concentrations – Accounting is our largest undergraduate major and has a face-to-face graduate degree; MIS faculty includes some of TAMIU's most prolific and widely cited researchers. Having doctoral students in these two additional concentrations could mean graduating 10+ PhD students per year, or half of the current Carnegie Classification requirement."
Dr. Pérez-Batres began his academic journey with an MS in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned his Ph.D. in Management and International Business from Texas A&M University. Prior to TAMIU, he served at and ascended through various academic roles at Appalachian State University, Central Michigan University, and Missouri State University. Additional notable experiences include visiting scholar and faculty affiliate honorary appointments at the University of Michigan's Erb Institute and the Management Development Program at Harvard.
Central to his vision is enhancing the relationship between the School of Business and the local community, including business and industry partners, by consistently connecting industry and academia.
"We can invite industry leaders to become advisory board members of our centers and programs," he said, "To ensure student interaction, we must continue to build strong student organizations and offer complementary co-curricular activities that further enhance their career readiness skillset."
"The School of Business aims to increase student engagement by being intentional about the time spent and the quality of the activities it creates," Dr. Pérez-Batres said, "To this end, we are working on action-based co-curricular platforms that facilitate student involvement: School events, student organizations, study abroad, simulations, and scholarships," he said, "We celebrate faculty research by signaling its relevance and rewarding/supporting commitment."
Signaling includes hosting world-renowned scholars and communicating our faculty’s research achievements across campus and the larger community, he said.
"It also includes state-of-the-art databases, professorships, summer stipends, and a travel budget for conference presentations," he said, "Our aim is to continue finding avenues to showcase student engagement and faculty research prowess as sources of strength for elevating the Sanchez School of Business's good reputation."
He said he is impressed by the quality of TAMIU faculty and staff and the business community support the School of Business receives.
"They hold us in high regard," Dr. Pérez-Batres said, "It is also extraordinary to have so many centers and programs of excellence under one roof, such as the Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade, the Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development, the Small Business Development Center, and the Banking Academy, and a solid PhD in International Business Program, celebrating its 20th Anniversary," he said.
Dr. Pérez Batres said he is excited to serve as Dean of the School of Business.
"I am thrilled to serve as the Dean of the Sanchez School of Business alongside an outstanding group of passionate professionals who are changing the trajectory of students’ lives, creating a legacy, and elevating South Texas and beyond," he said, "Within these first 22 weeks, I have met extraordinary individuals who genuinely care about our students, school, and region. I pray to God to continue sending me people into my path who are of good heart and committed to the Sanchez School of Business project."
Find out more about Dr. Luis Pérez-Batres including his hobbies, research and long-term vision for the Sánchez School of Business by visiting an expanded interview here.
Registration for TAMIU’s Wintermester and Spring 2025 courses is underway online via Uconnect.
TAMIU Spring 2025 classes begin Jan. 21, 2025. Late registration begins Jan. 21 at 8 a.m. and continues through Monday, Jan. 27 at 11:59 p.m.
For more, contact the Office of the University Registrar at 326.2250, email registrar@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, suite 121.
To learn about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration.
University information is also shared on its website, tamiu.edu, and University social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
