ABAC is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Yasemin Öcal Atinc as dean of the Stafford School of Business, bringing two decades of academic leadership, innovative program development, and extensive global teaching experience to the role. Her first day in the role will be Feb. 16.

President Tracy Brundage shared how Dr. Atinc’s leadership will be important to maximize new initiatives at the school: “On behalf of the ABAC community, I welcome Dr. Atinc as the new dean of the Stafford School of Business. I am confident she will continue its positive trajectory which includes the recently announced ACBSP accreditation and the new Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership," Brundage said.

"We're also proud that our students now have the option to choose between three concentrations in the Bachelor of Science in Business: General Business, Economics, and Management. Combining Dr. Atinc’s leadership with this momentum, the SSB is well positioned to advance its mission, expand its reach, and continue building a culture of excellence under her stewardship.”

Dr. Atinc joins ABAC from East Texas A&M University, where she most recently served as chief academic officer for extended sites, overseeing four campuses and guiding initiatives in strategic planning, enrollment management, curriculum development, budgeting, personnel, and community partnerships. Her leadership has been widely recognized for strengthening academic operations and fostering collaborative, student-centered environments. During her tenure at East Texas A&M University, Dr. Atinc also served as faculty senate president, successfully leading multiple governance, curriculum, strategic planning, and budget initiatives. She represented the institution on both the A&M System Faculty Senate and the Texas Council of Senates, contributing to shared governance at the state and system levels.

Dr. Atinc has already inspired confidence from ABAC’s leadership. “Throughout the interview process, it was clear that Dr. Atinc’s interest in ABAC extended well beyond the role of dean. She articulated a compelling vision for growth that emphasized collaboration among faculty, staff, and students. Her dedication to collegiality stood out, and I am confident the Stafford School of Business will achieve significant milestones under her leadership,” Provost Jason S. Goodner said.

Her previous appointments include roles at Auburn University at Montgomery, Louisiana Tech University, Grambling State University, and Anadolu Bil Vocational School of Higher Education in Istanbul, where she also served as department head of management. In that role, she led curriculum development, accreditation reporting, European Union project involvement, and major departmental administrative responsibilities.