Miller School Names New Director
The College of Business (COB) has named Dr. Joshua R. Aaron the Miller School of Entrepreneurship’s new director. He takes over for Dr. Michael Harris, who officially became dean of the COB in 2024.
Josh Aaron, left, observes as teams present their ideas during the second round of the Aman Pirate Challenge, which took place Feb. 4 in the Main Campus Student Center
Before being named Miller School director, Aaron was the Pam Wright Chair of Entrepreneurship and a professor of management at Middle Tennessee State University, where he led the Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship program to record-setting growth.
As the Miller School director, Aaron will direct the Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship degree and Entrepreneurship Certificate programs and multiple co-curricular programs, e.g., the Aman Pirate Challenge. Additional duties include teaching, student recruitment, fundraising and investor relations, strategic planning and budgeting, communications and branding, and other duties necessary to lead a successful and vibrant entrepreneurship school. Aaron will have oversight of the Crisp Small Business Resource Center and Isley Innovation Hub, a 15,000-square-foot campus-wide innovation space.
Aaron will receive the J. Fielding Miller Distinguished Professorship. The responsibilities of this professorship are focused on providing highly effective leadership and fulfilling the strategic goals of the Miller School.
“We are handing over the Miller School keys to a leader who has led and transformed at every stop in his academic and professional journeys,” said Harris. “I look forward to working with Josh as he leads the Miller School and continues to build its reputation as a national model.”
“I want to thank Mike Harris for his dedication to the Miller School,” said Fielding Miller, CAPTRUST chairman and CEO. “Under his leadership, we have evolved from an entrepreneurial idea into a thriving school that is stronger by the day. As we approach the school’s 10-year anniversary, I am thrilled to welcome Josh Aaron to take the reins and carry us forward into our next chapter.”
Aaron is originally from Lenoir City, Tennessee. He holds a doctoral degree in strategic management (2008), an MBA in strategic management (2003) and a Bachelor of Science in accounting (2001), all from the University of Alabama. He held academic positions at Georgia State University and ECU (2008-2014) before joining MTSU in 2014. Before academia, he was an auditor at Ernst and Young, LLP in Birmingham, Alabama.
He currently serves on the board of directors for the Small Business Institute®, the board of advisors for the Tennessee Small Business Development Center and the finance committee for the United Way of South Central Tennessee.
“I am honored and deeply grateful to be selected to lead the Miller School of Entrepreneurship,” said Aaron. “The Miller School’s accomplishments in its first decade are truly remarkable. I look forward to collaborating with its students, faculty, staff, alumni, investors and Dean Harris to reach new heights as we remain steadfast in our commitment to student success, public service and regional transformation.”
Aaron will begin his role as director on August 1, taking over for Chip Galusha, who has served as the interim director since 2023. Of Galusha, Harris said, “His dedication and passion kept the Miller School firing on all cylinders during this transition. I truly appreciate all that he did for the Miller School over the years.”