In 2018, Mike Galbreth jumped at the chance to join the Haslam College of Business as the new head of the Department of Business Analytics and Statistics and the Pilot Chair of Excellence. “I am very thankful for the opportunity to serve my alma mater, be closer to my extended family, and be a part of one of the top business analytics programs in the world,” he says. “This really is a dream job for me.”

A native of Chattanooga, Galbreth initially came to Haslam as an undergraduate student. He started his career in the software consulting industry before deciding to pursue a Ph.D., which led to an academic role at the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business. Over the next 12 years, he taught all levels courses in management science, from undergraduate through Ph.D., and was deeply involved in international programs and executive education.

Because of his background in the software industry, Galbreth’s initial research interests focused on how information technology impacts business operations. “I’ve since expanded to the areas of sustainable operations, with an emphasis on used product remanufacturing and reuse, retail operations, and pricing models,” he says. “I’m really looking forward to continuing my research here at Haslam, where there’s a wide diversity of research interests and expertise and faculty who are open to collaboration.” Galbreth’s research has been published extensively within the field of analytics and operations management, and he currently serves on the editorial boards of four leading research journals.

As he leads the department, Galbreth hopes to keep building on recent successes. “We have great momentum with our MSBA degree given the UPS Smith Prize, and I want to capitalize on that to attract more top students and employers,” he says. “I’m also enthusiastic about our new Ph.D. program in business analytics.” Most importantly, he wants to support the faculty and staff he serves so they can continue to thrive.