The Fellowship traces its origin to 1989, when SMA President James G. Hunt asked W. Jack Duncan to Chair a committee composed of Arthur G. Bedeian and Keith Davis to investigate creating a Fellows Group within the Southern Management Association. In November, 1993, upon the Committee's recommendation, the SMA Board of Directors formally approved the formation of a Fellows Group. A set of Founding Fellows, all Fellows of the Academy of Management, who had served as either President of the Academy or the Southern Management Association, held an inaugural meeting in November 1994. The Fellowship has held an annual dinner each November since. The Founding Fellows, charged with the responsibility of organizing the Fellowship, were Arthur G. Bedeian, Louisiana State University, W. Jack Duncan, University of Alabama at Birmingham, William M. Fox, University of Florida, Robert M. Fulmer, College of William and Mary, James G. Hunt, Texas Tech University, Leon C. Megginson, Mobile College, Dennis F. Ray, Mississippi State University, Max S.Wortman, Iowa State University, and Daniel A. Wren, University of Oklahoma. 

Fellows Group Photos since 1996 (no group pic for 2002)

Election to the Fellowship is based on the following criteria:

1. Scholarly achievements while an SMA member; those made before becoming an SMA member receive secondary consideration.
2. Significant SMA service, including offices held, committee involvement, editorial responsibilities, and program participation. Whereas service is an important consideration, it alone is insufficient for being elected a Fellow.
3. Minimum of five years' SMA membership and participation.

Candidates for membership must be nominated by an active SMA Fellow, and seconded by two active Fellows. Neither nominators nor seconders may be members of the faculty where a candidate received a terminal degree or currently holds an appointment. Affirmation of 60 percent of the voting Fellows is required for election.
A Dean of the Fellows, elected by the Fellowship, serves for a three-year period. An Associate Dean is appointed by the Dean for a coterminous period and is responsible for assisting the Dean in administering the Fellowship. An Historian, also appointed by the Dean, is responsible for preserving and documenting the Fellowship's heritage. Officers:
   
Dean:
Chuck Pierce, University of Memphis
capierce@memphis.edu

Associate Dean:
Tim Barnett, Mississippi State University
tim.barnett@msstate.edu

Fellows Historian:
Kevin W. Mossholder, Auburn University
   
Active Members:
David Allen, Texas Christian University
Neal Ashkanasy, University of Queensland
Tim Barnett, Mississippi State University
M. Ronald (Mike) Buckley, University of Oklahoma
James G. Combs, University of Central Florida
Russell Cropanzano, University of Colorado
Angelo DeNisi, Tulane University
Gerald R. Ferris, Florida State University 
Robert C. Ford, University of Central Florida
William L. Gardner, Texas Tech University
Mark B. Gavin, West Virginia University
Wayne Hochwarter, Florida State University
K. Michele (Micki) Kacmar, Texas State University
Dave Ketchen, Auburn University
Lisa Schurer Lambert, Georgia State University
Bruce Lamont, Florida State University
Kevin Lowe, University of Sydney
Mark Martinko, Florida A&M University
Kevin W. Mossholder, Auburn University
Pamela Perrewé, Florida State University
Chuck Pierce, University of Memphis 
Terri A. Scandura, University of Miami
Chester Schriesheim, University of Miami
Chris Shook, University of Montana
Jeremy C. Short, University of Oklahoma
Sherry Sullivan, Bowling Green State University
Bennett Tepper, Ohio State University
Robert Vandenberg, University of Georgia
David D. Van Fleet, Arizona State University
Larry Williams, University of Nebraska
Margaret Williams, Texas Tech University
Shaker A. Zahra, University of Minnesota
Tyge Payne, Texas Tech University
Paul E. Spector, University of South Florida