I was disheartened to learn that Lawrence Shao will be stepping down as the dean of the College of Business at the end of the fall semester.
Throughout his tenure, Shao has been a champion for students’ success across all departments, particularly those in the Department of Strategic Communication, Media and Sport Management, where I was fortunate to belong. His dedication to the students within his college is evident in the countless ways he has offered guidance and support. I witnessed this firsthand through his commitment to The Rocket. Shao often commented on his admiration for the work of student journalists and ensured that students planning a career in that field had the tools they needed to succeed.
During my time as president of WSRU-TV, Shao consistently supported our efforts of producing quality programming, stopped by the television studio on several occasions and even participated in one of our productions, showing a genuine interest in our organization’s initiatives and the experiences students were gaining.
Something that has always stood out to me was the manner in which Shao interacts with students on a personal level. During my time at Slippery Rock University, I saw him greet students by name in the hallways, even those he may only see once a month. (For note: there are nearly 2,000 students with majors within the College of Business.) This simple act speaks volumes not only to Shao’s remarkable memory but also his deep commitment to his students.
Shao’s plans to return to the classroom in the fall of 2025 are a loss for the college in terms of leadership; however, it is an incredible gain for the students who will now have the chance to learn from him directly.
I owe Shao immense gratitude for the kindness and encouragement he offered me personally during my time as a student. I think it is easy for a student in a large college to feel like a needle in a haystack, but with leaders like Shao, this is not the case.
I know I speak for so many current and former students when I say: thank you, Dean Shao!
Sincerely,
James Cressman ‘24
