Dr. David W. Palmer serves as Dean and Professor of the Hans A. Nielsen College of Business at CSU.

Palmer holds a Bachelor of Science, with a concentration in computer science, from Samford University, an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama, and a Doctor of Philosophy in marketing from the University of Alabama.

Before joining academia, Palmer spent most of his business career working in the information technology side of the life and health insurance industry as a programmer, systems analyst, and executive. While in the insurance industry, he earned the designation of Fellow, Life Management Institute. He is also an alumnus of Leadership Tuscaloosa (Alabama).

Palmer served as associate professor of management and marketing at Jacksonville State University (Alabama). While on faculty at Jacksonville State, he was recognized multiple times for excellence in teaching, research, and service at both the university and college levels.

He joined the CSU faculty as associate professor and director of graduate programs in 2016. He became dean in 2017. During his tenure as dean, the college has received a naming gift from the Nielsen Family, an endowment for the Breland/Adams Chair in Business, and seen the faculty support the university with 100% giving. The college has also supported study abroad, business-as-mission travel, and international travel to improve students’ awareness of the international aspects of business.
Palmer and his wife, Betty, both work at Charleston Southern. They have one daughter and live in North Charleston. The Palmers are members of Seacoast Church.

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