Russell Crook officially started as the new dean of LSU’s E.J. Ourso College of Business on July 28, taking over from Jared Llorens.

He told the Reveille he’s thrilled to embark on his new journey as dean and is excited to make his mark on the school.

“When this opportunity presented itself, I raised my hand and said I couldn’t be more thrilled,” Crook said.

He said he’s passionate about the chance to study abroad, support first generation college students, offer opportunities to get a college degree to young people everywhere in Louisiana and teach students how to work with AI rather than ignore it.

“One of the things I’d love to see us think more about is an entrepreneurial mindset where our students come in and they leave to think like entrepreneurs because they will run to the problems of the world and solve them,” Crook said.

Crook, originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, grew up a Tigers fan. His father played golf at LSU in the 1960s where he competed in SEC championships. He also lived in the same dorm as Pete Maravich during his prime.

The spirit of the purple and gold never left Crook, even though he attended Florida State University for undergrad. He graduated with a bachelor’s in economics in 1995. He went on to pursue his master’s in business administration at American University and finally returned to FSU for his Ph.D. in business administration in 2005.

As he begins his LSU journey, Crook is in a self-imposed “listen and learn” phase where he is talking to everyone in the school trying to understand his new surroundings.

“I’m trying to spend an hour with every person around the college because I don’t know what I don’t know,” Crook said.

Crook spent over 18 years at the University of Tennessee, where he worked his way up from assistant professor of management to department head of the Haslam College of Business. He served in this position for over eight years before moving to Baton Rouge.

The move to Baton Rouge has been nonstop excitement for Crook and his family. He said that even though he was told about the hospitality before the move, it has been such a welcome shock.

“It’s the most welcoming place,” Crook said. “I didn’t think people could get any nicer than they are in Tennessee.”

While pursuing his master’s, Crook was diagnosed with a type of cancer known as B-cell lymphoma. It was through battling the disease that he gained clarity on what he wanted to pursue — academia and research.

Crook has contributed to nearly 50 journal publications in his extensive career. His research focuses on what drives successful organizations and what resources differentiate high-performing and low-performing organizations.

“Organizations need to be entrepreneurial,” said Crook. “That is why our work in the college around AI and emerging technologies along with our other entrepreneurial initiatives matter so much.”

While in the interview process for the job, Crook was asked what he thinks the next five years of the business school looks like. Crook responded by saying “Wouldn’t it be great if we make the next five years the greatest ever?”

Crook hopes for this to manifest in expanded online education, expanded corporate relationships globally and a solid understanding of how to use AI in a productive manner.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Crook enjoys cooking for his family, specifically shrimp scampi and grilling steak. He is also an avid golfer and a member of the Highland Community Park workout group F3 which stands for fitness, fellowship, and faith.

As a dean dedicated to interacting with the students and his colleagues, he has a goal of starting a “workout with the dean.”

“I’m all in,” Crook said. “If there is anything I can do to help students across campus, then that’s what I want to do.”