CofC Faces to Know: Ron Magnuson
Meet Ron Magnuson, executive director of graduate and executive programs in the School of Business.
Name: Ron Magnuson
Hometown: Greensburg, Pennsylvania (outside of Pittsburgh)
Education/Background: B.S. in electrical engineering; MBA
Job title: Executive Director of Graduate and Executive Programs, School of Business
How long have you worked at the College? Six years (started July 1, 2018)
What are your job responsibilities? My department supports all the graduate programs at the School of Business. This includes the one-year MBA program, the Executive MBA and the Master of Science in Accountancy.
What do you like most about your job? I love working with students and watching them grow throughout their time in the program. I also enjoy creating and delivering high-value programs that are nationally ranked.
What question do you get asked most in your job and what’s your typical answer? Students often ask me to fix a problem. My response is that I won’t be there to help you after you graduate, so I will give you the tools and guidance to solve the problem on your own.
What’s your favorite location on campus and why? I really like the area behind Randolph Hall. It has the great blend of academics and natural beauty.
What are your hobbies? I like to play tennis, ride bikes and read. I am also very active in my church.
What personal and/or professional accomplishment are you most proud of? I am proud of the relationship I built with the union officers who represented our bargaining unit employees while I was the head of human resources at Allegheny Energy. We did not always agree, but we had mutual respect and made some meaningful improvements for the company and our bargaining unit employees.
Name a creative work (book, movie, performance, etc.) you enjoyed recently and why? I just read The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War, by Erik Larson. I really liked learning more about the history of Fort Sumter. Always fun to learn more about Charleston.
What was your favorite TV show growing up? I liked M*A*S*H.
What’s next on your bucket list? Hiking on the Amalfi Coast in Italy.
What is something your campus colleagues would be surprised to know about you? I love a good “chick flick.”
What was your first job? I was an electrical engineer working with transmission lines for a utility in Richmond, Virginia.
What’s your favorite Lowcountry restaurant? 82 Queen. Love the atmosphere and Southern menu.
Describe your perfect day: Getting up early, walking the dog, playing tennis, teaching my capstone course, going out on the boat and reading a book.
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