Covad Communications CEO Named Dean of UMSL's College of Business Administration

Charles Hoffman has been named the dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. 

The Clayton resident, who mostly recently served as president and chief executive officer of Covad Communications, the national broadband carrier, will begin his new position as dean Sept. 1. 

Michael Elliott, associate dean and director of undergraduate students for the college, has served as interim dean since July 1.

"Business is an honorable profession,” Hoffman said in a press release. “When I look back on my business career I don't think about stock price increases or net income improvements, but I do think about, and often hear from, people I was able to influence and mentor. The exciting thing about business is people and organizational development that leads to great results. One of my goals at UMSL is to help students realize that's what business is all about." 

Hoffman said in the release that he feels this new role will aid UMSL because he understands business challenges and has a great deal of practical business experience. Hoffman is an UMSL alumnus who earned a BSBA in 1974 and an MBA in 1976.

“I’m a champion for UMSL. I’m a product of UMSL,” he said. “No one cares about the college more than I, so I feel it’s really a perfect fit.”

Glen Cope, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UMSL, said in a release that Hoffman’s connection to both UMSL and the business community made him the ideal choice for the position.

“Charles Hoffman is a business innovator who understands and appreciates what our business college does well now and can do better in the future to educate the next generation of business leaders and support our regional economy,” Cope said in the release. “I’m confident in his ability to grow and expand the college to meet the ever-changing field and the needs of our students.” 

Hoffman began his business career with IBM, later joining Southwestern Bell to build its first wireless business in St. Louis. Subsequently, he built and ran networks in Boston, Washington D.C. and the country of Mexico.

He then joined Sprint PCS as president of its Northeast region. That position led to his first public company CEO position with Rogers Wireless, the national carrier in Canada formerly known as Cantel. From there he joined Covad Communications.