Dr. Tará Burnthorne Lopez has served as the Dean of the Southeastern Louisiana University College of Business since 2021 and as a faculty member since 2007. Dr. Lopez has a history of successfully building programs that are reflective of industry and student needs and breaking down silos. She is co-founder of Southeastern’s Professional Sales program which was ranked among the top 10% in the United States within three years. Under her leadership, the College worked with the College of Science and Technology to launch an online MBA with technology focus and with the College of Nursing and Health Sciences to offer a Medical Sales Professional Certificate.
Her work also includes building international programs. Dr. Lopez is co-founder and former director of the Panamá Bilingüe Program in partnership with the government of the Republic of Panamá which trained over 500 Panamanian teachers. She is also the co-founder and former director of the Business in Panamá Study Abroad program, creating international travel and study opportunities for more than 200 students. She has also served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Marketing Education and the Journal of Business Research.
Dr. Lopez served as the founding advisor for both Southeastern’s Women in Business student organization and Southeastern Lion Toastmasters.
In 2024, she, her staff, and a team of committed advisors established the Northshore Executive Business Forum to bring together 500 of the business, industry, and government leaders of the northshore region to learn collectively and celebrate the opportunity and community along the I-12 corridor.
Dr. Lopez serves on the Executive Board of the Tangipahoa Chamber of Commerce, the Catalyst Council at STartUP Northshore - a project of the St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation, the advisory board for Palette Northshore, and is on the advisory board of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy.
Dr. Lopez was recognized as the 2024 Tangipahoa Chamber of Commerce Board Member of the Year, the Louisiana Travel Association 2025 Champion of Tourism Education, and a 2025 Champion of Economic Development by St. Tammany Economic Development Corporation. She was also honored by Argent Financial for 2025 American Business Women’s Day.
