Professor, Management Dr. Renee Porter has been selected to serve as a commissioner on the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. The ACBSP is the accreditation agency for the Robert W. Plaster College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Porter first joined the University full-time in 2007 and worked with the ACBSP to get the college’s accreditation in 2010.

Porter went on to work more closely with the ACBSP, becoming a peer evaluator. In this role, Porter traveled to other colleges and universities, evaluating their business programs and writing reports for the commissioners. Porter has also served as a peer mentor, helping programs work towards accreditation. Porter says this experience has allowed her to examine best practices across the country and work to implement them at Lindenwood.

This work to remain up to standard paid off when the university’s accreditation was reaffirmed in 2020. The business program passed and specialized accounting accreditation was added without any notes or comments from the accreditors. When one of the ACBSP’s evaluators complemented the quality of Lindenwood’s report, Porter said, “you can tell that when you're from a really great school, it writes itself.”

Having worked with the ACBSP in these different roles, Porter has seen what the agency contributes to business programs. Porter spoke on the ACBSP’s impact “I feel like it has made any institution a better school, a Better Business program,” Porter added that she was excited “to help support what ACBSP does that develops excellent business programs and business graduates.”

Porter also showed appreciation for Lindenwood’s role in her journey with the ACBSP, adding “they have really allowed me and supported me to go on these trips and to keep learning and keep my professional development up of what those business standards are.” Through examining other universities and building connections with ACBSP members, Porter has worked to help Lindenwood attain and maintain its status. Considering the program’s growth since she joined in 2007, Porter describes this as the proudest accomplishment of her career.