James Long, who has taught in and led study abroad experiences at Auburn University for nearly a decade, is the new assistant dean of Global Programs in the Harbert College of Business effective May 16.

He will oversee all Harbert international education offerings—from week-abroad experiences embedded in various courses to the college’s summer study abroad experiences in Europe—while working with Harbert’s senior leadership to implement its strategic objectives related to global programs.

“I’ll be leading the college’s charge to involve more students in global activities and develop their global mindset,” said Long, who previously served as the director of international programs in the School of Accountancy (SOA). “The big mandate is to grow the programs strategically.”

“James’ deep passion for and extensive experience with study abroad programs, as well as international faculty and student exchanges, make him especially well-suited for the position,” said Harbert Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Keven Yost. “I look forward to watching him leverage our outstanding program directors and faculty to expand global opportunities for our students.”

Currently, Harbert Global offers a variety of international educational experiences that are tailored to meet the needs of Harbert and other Auburn students. For instance, the college’s summer program in Milan has both a six- and 12-week option, allowing students to take the required courses to complete the bulk of the college’s core curriculum or earn a business minor, experience European culture, and travel to nearby countries.

Long steps into the role after his predecessor Danny Butler retired. According to Long, Harbert’s Global Programs made great strides thanks to Butler and his team’s efforts.

“It is impressive to reflect on how much Danny and his team accomplished with our Global Programs over the past six years. The foundation they laid will enable us to expand our global programming portfolio and offer more students the exceptional and uniquely Auburn Harbert Global student experience,” said Long.

Since 2019, the college’s summer abroad programs in Europe have grown exponentially from about twenty students to this summer’s cohort of more than 360 undergraduates, who will study in Madrid, Milan and Rome.

A large reason for this growth, Long said, can be attributed to the quality of Harbert’s faculty and staff and the positive experiences students have in the programs.

“We have a lot of really talented people who are passionate about this,” said Long, referring to the Harbert faculty who lead and teach in the summer programs. “They see the benefits to the students, and they are pouring their lives into making our programs great.”

Long has shared his passion for international study and travel through a variety of activities since becoming a Harbert faculty member in 2009. He taught at Corvinus University in Budapest, Hungary, as a Fulbright Scholar, chaperoned and taught Auburn students participating in the Harbert summer programs, led Harbert MBA and consulting students on international trips, taught the International Business course (BUSI 3250) and directed the college’s Pforzheim University faculty and student exchange program.

He has also served as the director of international programs for the School of Accountancy (SOA), where he led the SOA’s global experiences for master of accountancy (MAcc) and undergraduate students.

The MAcc global experience includes a weeklong trip to Latin America or Europe, a service-learning project, cultural activities and company visits. This past academic year, 77 graduate students and six faculty and staff participated in a nine-day trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland.

In 2023, he launched a comparable experience for undergraduate business and SOA students, who can earn up to 15-hours of course credit during the summer by taking classes in Rome, Madrid or both European cities. In two years, the student enrollment in this program more than doubled, from 22 to 46 participants.

The motivating factor

While he acknowledges that he has benefitted professionally and personally from his Harbert global experiences, Long said the most rewarding thing is witnessing the impact these programs have on students.

“Global programs are a catalyst that provide our students with a strong foundation to support their personal and professional success,” he said.

“I’ve seen this transformation as students enter an unfamiliar environment, where they learn to be flexible and adapt. They also forge strong interpersonal bonds with other students and faculty in the program, solidifying and expanding their personal and professional networks, and they become more polished and confident after finishing a study abroad experience.” James Long

Long has received numerous teaching awards, including Auburn University's prestigious Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Alumni Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award, and the Harbert College Lowder and McCartney teaching awards.

Earlier in his career, the two-time Auburn alumnus (B.S. and M.S. accounting) worked for three years as an auditor for Gifford, Hillegass & Ingwersen LLP, which was founded by Dick Ingwersen, an Auburn Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and major supporter of Harbert College. He earned his doctorate in business accounting and information systems at Virginia Tech.

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Learn more about Global Programs in the Harbert College of Business.