College of Business associate dean Allison Duke named 2018 Woman of Influence

Laura Vento | 05/04/2018

Allison Duke, associate dean and associate professor of management in Lipscomb University’s College of Business, has been named a 2018 Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal.

As one of 33 Women of Influence honorees, Duke was recognized at a celebration luncheon hosted by the Nashville Business Journal April 27 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. She was also profiled in a special edition of the publication.

According to a release by the Nashville Business Journal, “The Women of Influence Awards honors women who lead and make it a priority to give back, to encourage and to inspire. Continuing this tradition and growing the strength of business women is essential to our community's success.”

"This honor means all those people who poured time into helping me grow personally and professionally are getting the recognition they deserve. I've been blessed by great mentors—women and men—who impacted my life, and I want to pay that forward to others," said Duke."I have the best job in the world. There are new things to learn every day, and I have full access to the resources that deliver that information. Then I get to take that information and figure out how it will help my students think differently, make better decisions, and be better employees and leaders. Most importantly, I get to spend time with so many outstanding students. Each one has a unique story, and helping them understand how to use that to develop a defined purpose and path is incredibly rewarding."

To select the Women of Influence class each year, the Nashville Business Journal nominations from the public. Nominees complete questionnaires, which are then scored by an independent panel of judges made of past Women of Influence winners. Now in its 12th year, the program recognizes women who are shaping their companies, improving our business community and paving the way for the next generation of influential female leaders.

Duke has been on faculty at Lipscomb for 11 years. Along with teaching and directing the business graduate program, she also has served as board president for a local nonprofit, Youth Encouragement Services. Prior to joining the Lipscomb faculty, Duke was an instructor in the University of Mississippi’s Department of Management. She has also served as manager of human resources for Progeny Marketing Resources and as an HR systems manager for Aspect Communications.

A native of Kentucky, Duke holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Murray State University, an MBA from Lipscomb University and a Ph.D. in management from the University of Mississippi.

“The Women of Influence Award is something that the Nashville Business Journal has done for about 10 or 12 years now that is really to recognize women in the business world who are making a difference,” said Duke.

Ray Eldridge, dean of the College of Business, said Duke’s recognition is well deserved. “This is a very fitting award for Allison, and one she lives out Duke_2 every day. She is not only a leader that impacts the college and university but who is impacting the next generation of business leaders,” he said. “She also has a lot of responsibility, which is influence. It’s an important award not only for Allison, but it’s also important for the College of Business.”

Eldridge said recognizing the expertise, talent and skills of women is an important initiative in the College of Business. Four of our last eight faculty hired were women, and the college recently sponsored the Lydia Conference, a panel discussion to discuss the intersection of women’s professionalism and spirit journeys, among other initiatives.

In addition to Duke, past Women of Influence honorees from Lipscomb include Charla Long, former management faculty and dean of the College of Professional Studies, 2007; Susan Galbreath, senior vice president for strategy and professor of accounting and former interim dean of the College of Business, 2008; Linda Schacht, leader-in-residence in the College of Leadership & Public Service, 2012 (also named a Trailblazer); Lisa Shacklett, former assistant dean of marketing and enrollment in the College of Business, 2014; and Susan Morley, former assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences.

Lipscomb University College of Business’ Master of Business Administration program has been ranked as one of the best in the nation by Bloomberg Businessweek. The College of Business has also been ranked the best in Tennessee by Poets&Quants for Undergrads. To learn more about the College of Business and its programs, visit business.lipscomb.edu