Above: Photo credit: Dean Anna Hickey, Courtesy of Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Matt Thieme
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After an extensive national search, Dr. Anna W. Hickey has accepted the position of dean of the Joseph W. Luter, III School of Business.
“Dr. Hickey has a long and distinguished career of service to our country through military and higher education leadership positions,” said President William G. Kelly. “She will be an exceptional addition to our Christopher Newport campus and an exceptional leader, teacher, and scholar.”
“I am deeply honored to serve as the dean of the Luter School and eager to meet its outstanding students, faculty and staff,” Dr. Hickey said. “The values at Christopher Newport University - honor, service, scholarship and leadership - align with my values and I am thrilled to be in a position to contribute to CNU achieving its vision of being the No. 1 regional public university in the nation.”
Dr. Hickey, who recently retired as a Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard, most recently served as vice provost for academic administration and formerly served as dean of the School of Leadership and Management at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
Dr. Hickey has taught courses in financial accounting, managerial accounting, intermediate accounting, cost accounting, and federal budgeting. She is affiliated with the Association of Government Accountants and previously served as a reviewer for the Journal of Accounting Education.
Her research interests are in governmental financial reporting and accounting education.
Dr. Hickey earned her undergraduate degree in management from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, her MBA with a specialty in finance from Florida Atlantic University, and her PhD in accounting from West Virginia University.
President Kelly thanked former Dean Alan Witt for his exceptional and visionary leadership of the Luter School and for assisting Dr. Hickey with the transition. Dean Witt retired on July 1, 2025. Dr. Hickey’s first official day on campus was August 14.
“She is exceptionally qualified, deeply experienced, and an engaged and personable leader, and embodies the student-first ethos of Christopher Newport University,” said Provost Quentin Kidd. “I am excited to see all that she will accomplish for our University and the extraordinary students, faculty and staff of the Luter School.”
The Luter School of Business is renowned for providing a personalized educational experience emphasizing leadership, experiential learning, and service to the community. Small class sizes mean faculty know their students, provide individualized guidance, and keep in touch with them after graduation. Strong connections with alumni and business practitioners enhance the program through mentorships and internships. Internships offer skill development, resume enhancement, and give students confidence.
The Luter School of Business is nationally ranked. The business news outlet Poets & Quants consistently ranks it in the top 80 undergraduate business schools and ahead of larger and better known institutions. The School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the longest serving, most recognized international accrediting body for business schools. This distinction is held by only 6% of business schools worldwide.