Roy Savoian

In July 1998, Roy Savoian came to Central Washington University (CWU) to become the Dean of the College of Business. He holds a faculty appointment as a tenured Professor of Economics.

Roy was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of California at Santa Barbara where he earned both a B.A. and Ph.D. in Economics. He taught previously at the University of Tulsa from 1975-79, Purdue University from 1979-84 and Lynchburg College in Virginia from 1984-95 where he served first as the Chairman of the Department of Economics and Director of the Center for Economic Education and then the Dean of the School of Business and Economics for more than seven years. Most recently, Roy was the Dean of the School of Business at Adams State College (in Colorado) from 1995-98.

Roy has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He has been a guest speaker to many business and civic groups and has made numerous workshop presentations. His published research includes articles on motor fuel taxation policy; electric utility regulation under PURPA; and, the climb to the corporate executive suite. In addition, Roy co-authored a published case study for The Hartwick College Classic Leadership series: "Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce." While at the University of Tulsa, he co-authored a federally funded project on the legal aspects of enhanced oil recovery for U.S. Congressional Office of Technology Assessment.

His consulting during the past 12 years includes a number of projects in strategic management and planning; leadership development; quality management planning; and, organizational change. Consulting clients include: Framatome/B&W Nuclear Technologies; Centra Health of Virginia; City of Lynchburg (Virginia); Alamosa County (Colorado) Chamber of Commerce; Wenatchee Police Department, and, among others, the CWU Alumni Association.

He serves on the boards of the Seattle Public Schools Academy of Finance, Washington Business Week, and the Economic Development Group of Kittitas County. Previously, he served, among others, the REGION 2000 economic development effort in central Virginia and then the Board of Directors, Alamosa (CO) Community Development Corporation and the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, San Luis Valley Development Resources Group in Colorado.

Roy lives in Ellensburg with his wife Alana, a former K-3 teacher in Virginia and Colorado and pre-K in the HeadStart Program in the Kittitas Valley. Their son, Scott, graduated with a B.S. degree from Indiana University and a Master of Accounting from the University of Oregon. He resides in Eugene and works as a controller for a fibre-optic contractor in the telecom industry. Their daughter, Sasha, graduated from the University of Tennessee, worked for several years in Jackson, Wyoming, and currently lives and works in Bellingham, Washington.

March 2005