Alumni Spotlight September 2026

Christy Weer M'96

DEGREES:
B.S., MBA, PhD

CURRENT EMPLOYER
Salisbury University

CURRENT OCCUPATION
Dean, Franklin P. Perdue School of Business

DESCRIBE YOUR CAREER PATH
I earned my undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Washington College. Shortly after graduation, I started working for a small insurance agency, Avon-Dixon, in Easton, MD. It didn't take me long to realize that I wanted to continue my education, so I applied for the MBA at Salisbury. I worked full time and completed my MBA at night in about 18-months. Shortly after, I moved to Wilmington, DE and started working for a larger insurance brokerage, the Harry David Zutz Agency, as an inside sales representative. That's when I realized that a sales career was absolutely for me. So, after a year of inside sales, I accepted an outside sales position selling Lawyer's Professional Liability Insurance to large law firms in Philadelphia, expanding into New York and DC. I loved, loved, loved everything about my sales experience. But, one day, as I was driving into Philadelphia, I saw a billboard that read, "Earn a PhD in Business" and the rest is history. I took a GMAT review course, took the GMAT, applied to a few PhD programs in the Philadelphia area and decided that Drexel was for me. Five years later, I graduated from the Lebow College of Business at Drexel with a PhD in Organization and Strategy and accepted my first teaching gig at Radford University in Southwestern VA. Although my family fell in love with the New River Valley, when I got the chance to come back home and teach at SU, we jumped on it. I started as an Assistant Professor in the Perdue School in the winter of 2009, became Associate Dean in 2011, Interim Dean in 2014 and Dean in January of 2015. I've been fortunate to have had so many incredible opportunities throughout my career and now I get to "sell" the Perdue School every day. There's no place I'd rather be.

MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU LEARNED WHILE ATTENDING SALISBURY UNIVERSITY
Networking. Take advantage of every opportunity. Get to know your classmates. True story: Many of my MBA classmates knew each other - they had either gone to SU for undergrad or were from the Salisbury area. I was new - didn't know a sole. One day in Dr. Shipper's Strategy class, we were asked to get into groups. I was a bit nervous, but walked up to two girls who were clearly friends and asked if I could join them. That one question led to a lifetime of friendship. Donna and Cheryl, thank you for letting me join your circle. Lunch soon?

WHAT CAMPUS ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATIONS WERE YOU INVOLVED WITH?
None, I was a commuter graduate student.

BEST COLLEGE MEMORY
Many of my most vivid memories are of the amazing faculty who taught in the MBA program. Now, those same professors are my colleagues and my friends.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE SALISBURY UNIVERSITY?
Perdue School reputation and the flexibility that a part-time evening MBA program provided.

IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE SALISBURY UNIVERSITY IN THREE WORDS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?
Student-focused, community-connected.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT AND WHY?
Any destination that a cruise ship will take me. A lounge-chair, sun, water, and a good book is all I need for a fabulous vacation.

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT
I'm super proud of the work we do in the Perdue School - helping students as they prepare for their worlds after college, preparing them to launch careers or attend graduate school. That said, my greatest accomplishment is raising two great young adults. My daughter is a BCBA and lives in Southern CA and my son just graduated from Oklahoma State with degrees in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.

WHAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Right out of college, I wanted to work on a cruise ship. I had pictures done for a portfolio and everything. Then I chickened out. And, although I didn't make a career out of it, I've spent over 200 days on a cruise ship across 30+ cruises.

HOBBIES/OTHER INTERESTS
I love a good book, a good movie, spending time with family and friends. And, I love a good meal outside when the weather is nice. Simple pleasures make me happy.