Jim Strode, Ph.D.

Strode, Ph.D., is the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and O’Bleness Associate Professor at Ohio University's College of Business. As associate dean, Strode leads the undergraduate degree programs, manages college-level curriculum processes, manages signature undergraduate programs, oversees the Academic Advising and Career Services, and collaborates to recruit, retain, and place undergraduate Business Bobcats. In his time as associate dean, he has assisted in bringing the Ohio Export Internship Program to the college, as well as lead a global initiative to create a double degree program with Deakin University (Australia).

In 2023, he received the Distinguished Educator Award from the North America Society for Sport Management and has served as the President of the Alliance for Sport Business since 2021.

Strode formerly lead the Department of Sports Administration program as chair. In his three years, he led the development of a five-year strategic plan, mission statement, and vision statement; a comprehensive diversity, equity, and inclusion plan; a revision of the curriculum of the Bachelor of Sport Management degree; and redeveloped the graduate program advisory board by developing bylaws and recruiting a representative membership. Externally, he developed partnerships with sport organizations to provide experiential learning opportunities for students and assisted with a marketing plan with Sport Career Consulting to recruit top sports administration students from high schools around North America.

Previously, Strode was the Dean of Graduate Studies at Ohio Dominican University (ODU) in Columbus, Ohio. As dean, Strode provided leadership over eight masters level programs, and assisted with the university’s efforts to receive Higher Learning Commission approval to offer doctoral level education. Strode was instrumental in leading the conversion of graduate programs from traditional to online and blended formats. Additionally, he led efforts to create professional development opportunities for students, enhanced synergies between academic affairs and the admissions process, and developed relationships with other universities to create admission pathways for graduate education.

Beyond the classroom, Strode has published in multiple peer-reviewed journals and has presented his research at the NASSM, European Association for Sport Management (EASM), Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand (SMAANZ), North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS) conferences, among others.

Prior to his arrival at ODU, Strode was an assistant professor at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio, where he served as the head of the undergraduate Sport Management department, advisor of the Sport Management Club, and taught graduate and doctoral level courses.

Strode received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin (UW), and his masters and doctorate in Sport Management from The Ohio State University. While at UW, Strode served as an ex-officio member of the Wisconsin Alumni Association Board of Directors and the undergraduate representative to the UW Athletic Board. At OSU, Strode was the president of the Student Professional Development Association and received the William N. Wasson Student Leadership & Academic Award from the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA).

Outside of the classroom, Strode is a 19-year veteran high school basketball coach, having served as head coach of the girls programs at Worthington Kilbourne, Bexley, and Centennial High School. He is the past president of the District 10 Basketball Coaches Association.