Graduate School of Management Dean Robert Smiley will postpone his return to full-time teaching and research until continuing search efforts net his successor.

"Effective leadership during this next year is important to the school and to the search," said Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef in a letter this week to GSM faculty, staff and students. "I am very pleased that Dean Smiley has agreed to postpone his return to the faculty until the successful conclusion of the search. Please join me in thanking Bob for this special contribution to the school."

Smiley announced last September his intention to step down from the deanship on July 1, at which time he would have completed 13 years at the business school's helm.

He'd said at the time he hadn't planned on serving that long, but that the school's success was irresistible, tempting him to stay on in the dean's chair.

About the postponement of his return to full-time teaching and research, Smiley said, "I care deeply about the school, and I am pleased to be called on to continue to serve as dean during this period.

"The chancellor and I agreed," he said, "that my presence in this position was important for the continuity of a number of key projects including the construction of a new facility for the Graduate School of Management, faculty searches, and the expansion of both our full-time and working professional MBA programs."

Smiley added that applications for the MBA programs are up 30 percent to 40 percent over last year.