Tom Brown brings faith-driven leadership to helm newly unified College of Business and Technology
Tom Brown has been hired as the new dean of Bethel University’s reimagined College of Business and Technology, a move that marks the next phase in the university’s ambitious academic shake-up.
He starts August 4—and with 28 years at Oklahoma State under his belt, he’s stepping into a job that blends leadership, faith, and a blank canvas.
A New Chapter for Bethel—and for Brown
The appointment comes as Bethel, a private Christian university in Arden Hills, Minnesota, restructures its academic model. A key part of that plan? Folding business and communications studies into a single, collaborative unit. It’s part strategy, part necessity—and university officials say it’s all about preparing students for a world that’s no longer siloed.
For Brown, it wasn’t just the job. It was the mission.
He called the opportunity “a blessing” and said he was struck by how forward-looking Bethel’s leadership seemed.
Who Is Tom Brown?
If you’ve spent time in marketing academia, you probably know the name.
Brown served nearly three decades at Oklahoma State University. In his final seven years, he ran the School of Marketing and International Business at OSU’s Spears School of Business.
His resume checks out: research publications, administrative experience, faculty mentoring, and a steady record of building interdisciplinary programs. But what drew him north, beyond the professional opportunity, was personal alignment.
“I get to integrate my faith and my experience,” he told Twin Cities Business in an interview. “Not many jobs let you do both.”
That mix—deep industry knowledge with personal conviction—makes Brown a good fit, according to Bethel insiders.
What the New College Will Look Like
Bethel isn’t just renaming departments or rearranging chairs. The university is creating a genuinely unified school that pulls in:
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Traditional business majors (like finance, accounting, and marketing)
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Communications studies (including digital media and public relations)
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Industry partnerships for hands-on, real-world experience
The goal? To blur the lines between hard and soft skills, bringing students into cross-functional learning environments.
It’s a tall order—but Brown says he’s not rushing.
“I’m going to spend time listening,” he said. “I want to find out what’s already working.”
Faculty Reaction: Curious, Cautious, Hopeful
Faculty members—some of whom have been through more than one restructuring—say they’re cautiously optimistic. The merger could bring more visibility and funding to smaller programs that once operated in isolation.
Others see opportunity in shared resources.
“It’s a chance to collaborate on projects we wouldn’t have considered before,” one business professor said. “But it all depends on how it’s implemented.”
There’s concern, too. Communications faculty worry their identity could be diluted inside a business-heavy framework. Brown says he’s heard those concerns and plans to “protect what’s unique” about each discipline.
One faculty member added:
“Honestly, if he’s listening more than talking at first, that’s a good sign.”
A Look at Regional Competitors
Bethel’s move reflects a broader shift among Christian liberal arts universities, which are under pressure to do more with less—and to stay relevant.
Here’s how Bethel compares to regional peers:
| University | Business & Communication Integration | Faith-Based Curriculum | Industry Partnerships |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel University | Yes (Newly Unified) | Yes | In Development |
| Northwestern (St. Paul) | Partial (Courses Overlap) | Yes | Limited |
| St. Thomas University | No | Yes | Strong |
| Concordia–St. Paul | Yes (Since 2020) | Yes | Moderate |
The table shows Bethel is not alone, but it’s still early days for its rollout.
Timing, Transition, and a Bit of Patience
Brown takes over in early August—right before the fall semester kicks off. That’s both good and bad. Good, because he gets a front-row seat as students and faculty return. Bad, because transitions take time and academic calendars don’t wait.
He’ll need to make a quick study of budget allocations, hiring gaps, and accreditation needs.
And he knows it.
“I’m not walking in with a playbook,” he said. “This isn’t about me having the answers—it’s about asking the right questions.”
It’s a refreshingly honest take.
What’s at Stake?
Make no mistake: this isn’t just a personnel change. It’s a bet on the future of Bethel’s academic identity.
With enrollment pressures mounting across U.S. colleges—especially smaller religious ones—unified programs could mean the difference between thriving and treading water.
But student success is the core metric Brown’s watching.
“I love helping students and faculty grow. That’s the heart of this job,” he said. “We’re not just building a curriculum. We’re building people.”
That mindset may be Bethel’s biggest asset.
