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Associate Deans Conference

An event designed for decision-makers in business school operations and management.
September 10​ – 12​
Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Associate Deans Conference
Register for Conference
Agenda is subject to change up until the start of the conference.
Agenda Timezone:
CT
Central Time
Agenda:
Agenda Timezone:
CT
Central Time
Wednesday
September 10
Thursday
September 11
Friday
September 12
Wednesday
September 10
Session Details Coming Soon! These sessions are open to all attendees regardless of membership in the group and within AACSB
Amplifying Leadership: Your Role in Strategic Engagement: Associate Deans, Chairs, Directors, etc. play a pivotal role in advancing their institution’s external engagement strategy. This interactive session will explore how we can more effectively support the Dean’s efforts in marketing, communications, and relationship-building. Participants will reflect on their current contributions, identify areas for greater strategic alignment, and explore practical approaches to enhance collaboration across key engagement functions. Through guided discussion and peer exchange, attendees will gain insights into leveraging their unique positions to amplify institutional impact. The session will conclude with the development of a personalized short-term action plan to strengthen their leadership in external engagement. Join us to elevate your role and drive meaningful connections that support your school’s mission and visibility. These sessions are open to all attendees regardless of membership in the group or within AACSB!
Andrew Pueschel
Director, Center for International Business Education and Development and Associate Professor of Marketing
Ohio University
Session Details Coming Soon! These sessions are open to all attendees regardless of membership status in the group or within AACSB!
Session Details Coming Soon! These sessions are open to all attendees regardless of membership in the group or within AACSB!
Session Details Coming Soon! These sessions are open to all attendees regardless of membership in the group or within AACSB!
About the Summit

About the Summit

A new, interactive event designed to spotlight real-world strategies co-developed by business schools and their external partners.

Presented in a case study format, each session will explore practical, proven approaches to key challenges in business education. These solutions were created and implemented through meaningful collaboration between schools and innovative organizations across the higher education landscape. You’ll gain actionable insights grounded in authentic experiences, measurable outcomes, and shared goals.

You will walk away with tools to:

  • Refresh and modernize your curriculum
  • Assess and strengthen student readiness
  • Support faculty development and engagement

Agenda

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Check-in, Lunch & Networking

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Welcome, Opening Remarks, and Shark Tank Sessions

Kick off the afternoon with insights into the purpose of the Summit and what to expect from the sessions ahead, followed by Shark Tank Sessions, a pitch-style showcase of innovative solutions and industry collaborations.

2:15 PM – 3:00 PM: Integrating AI Tools into the Business Curriculum to Improve Career Readiness, Skills and Competencies of Students

Explore how three leading business schools—Endicott College, Coastal Carolina University, and UT-Dallas—successfully integrated an AI career readiness tool into their curriculum. This session will delve into their unique approaches to improving student career readiness, showcasing how the AI tool provided valuable insights into s

Thursday
September 11
Begin your day by networking over breakfast. This is an excellent opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, make new connections, and discuss the sessions ahead.
Session Details Coming Soon!
Join us for a welcome message from Lily Bi, President and CEO of AACSB International, followed by the opening keynote session by Professor Ayelet Fishbach. Drawing from cutting-edge research, Professor Fishbach will explore what truly drives us — how to set meaningful goals, maintain momentum, harness feedback, and cultivate lasting motivation. Learn actionable strategies to overcome obstacles, inspire others, and create a more purposeful path to personal and professional success.
Ayelet Fishbach
Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing
Lily Bi
President and CEO
AACSB International
The transition from college to career can be filled with uncertainty, stress, and self-doubt for graduating seniors. Launch courses, sometimes called senior seminars or off-boarding experiences, can help students build the resilience and life skills needed to navigate this pivotal moment with confidence. In this session, presenters will share practical models for designing and implementing these courses, drawing on successful examples that foster reflective growth, emotional readiness, and long-term adaptability. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to integrate resilience-focused learning into existing curricula and inspiration for piloting launch initiatives at their own institutions.
Moderator
Shannon Brecheisen
Assistant Dean
Michigan State University
Jessica Taverna
Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Studies
University of Utah
Marla McGraw
Assistant Dean, Career Management
Michigan State University
Leadership from the middle isn't just about navigating the present, it's also about building the future. As an associate dean, your unique cross-functional perspective positions you to identify and mentor emerging leaders across your institution. This session explores how to intentionally approach succession planning, both for your role and others across the college. You'll reflect on your evolving leadership journey, learn how to spot and support potential successors, and begin crafting a personal action plan to ensure leadership continuity and institutional strength. Whether you're planning your next step or just getting started, this session will help you lead with a legacy in mind.
Tamra Connor
Associate Dean for Accreditation and Operation
Illinois State University
Join Stephanie Bryant, AACSB’s Executive Vice President and Global Chief Accreditation Officer, and Libby Rozell, Regional Head of the Americas, for a dynamic listening session focused on the revision of the AACSB Business Accreditation Standards, with an opportunity to provide input on the Accounting Accreditation Standards as well. This interactive session is your chance to engage directly with AACSB leadership, share your perspectives as associate deans, and help shape the next generation of standards that reflect the evolving landscape of business and accounting education. Your voice will influence how AACSB ensures global relevance, academic quality, and societal impact in our accreditation processes. Whether you have feedback on the current standards, suggestions for improvement, or ideas to make the standards more agile and accessible, we would like to hear from you. This is more than a listening session—it’s a collaborative dialogue about the future of accreditation.
Elizabeth Rozell
Regional Head, Americas
AACSB International
Stephanie M. Bryant
Executive Vice President and Chief Accreditation Officer, Americas
AACSB International
Ready to play your way into deeper thinking? This highly interactive session transforms the classic card game “Go Fish” into a creative exploration of how curiosity can drive innovation in business education. In small groups, participants will “fish” for cards representing themes like teaching strategies, technology, assessment, scholarly inquiry, and leadership. As you collect sets, you’ll engage in reflective discussions designed to surface practical and inspiring ways to embed curiosity into your classrooms, research, and administrative leadership. Leave energized—with new ideas, strategies, and a fresh perspective on cultivating curiosity as a tool for meaningful change.
Amy McMillan
Associate Dean Research and Regional Transformation
East Carolina University
Wendy J. Walker
Associate Dean for Faculty and Graduate Programs
University of North Georgia
Today’s business students enter the classroom with diverse identities, experiences, and learning needs. How can business schools evolve to meet them where they are? This session highlights innovative approaches to align student support services with inclusive teaching practices. Learn how institutions are implementing systemic changes through experiential learning, cross-functional collaboration, and inclusive pedagogy. You’ll gain actionable insights to create a cohesive and high-impact learning environment that supports all students—both inside and outside the classroom.
Janine Sanders Jones
Associate Dean of Faculty Success
University of St. Thomas-Minnesota
Nakeisha Lewis
Associate Dean of Student Success, Knauss School of Business
University of San Diego
Business education challenges often span borders, but solutions are shaped by context. This session features associate deans from non-U.S. institutions discussing how global trends—AI integration, societal impact, and learner expectations—play out in their regions. Explore leadership strategies, policy constraints, and partnership innovations from around the world.
Relax and enjoy the company of your colleagues. This reception is the perfect opportunity to unwind and continue the day’s discussions in a more informal setting.
Friday
September 12
Begin the final day with networking over breakfast. Reflect on the insights gained and prepare for the final sessions.
Discover how AACSB Membership connects your institution to a global network of schools and industry partners, providing access to thought leadership, benchmarking tools, and collaboration opportunities. This session highlights the strategic benefits of membership—enhancing curriculum relevance, employer engagement, and institutional visibility. Learn how joining AACSB’s business community can help shape the future of business education.
Brittaney Mericle
Membership Community Manager
AACSB International
Elizabeth Rozell
Regional Head, Americas
AACSB International
Over the past decade, resumes and LinkedIn profiles have become saturated with certificates, badges, and other micro-credentials, creating challenges for hiring managers tasked with identifying qualified talent. A recent survey of over 100 hiring managers was conducted to gain insight into how non-degree credentials are assessed and valued by these key decision-makers. This session presents actionable recommendations to inform the development of future non-degree offerings—covering content, categorization, and structure—through the lens of a Director of Executive Education at a Big Ten institution and a strategic consulting firm.
Sarah Ham
Director, Executive Education Programs
Purdue University
Steve Shriberg
Associate Vice President, Consulting Services
Eduvantis, LLC
Are we preparing students for yesterday’s jobs or tomorrow’s challenges? In this eye-opening panel, business leaders deliver an unfiltered look at the persistent disconnect between higher education and the workforce. From critical thinking and digital fluency to adaptability and real-world collaboration, what competencies are employers actually seeking and not finding in today’s graduates? Join us as business leaders share sharp insights and actionable recommendations to help associate deans bridge the gap between academic outcomes and market realities.
Moderator
Vadim Revzin
Founding Co-Director
School16
Michael Furgason
Head of Government & Academic SMB Sales North America
LinkedIn
Shawna Oliver
Director of Global Mergers & Acquisitions
WTW
Join Stephanie Bryant, Executive Vice President of AACSB International, to explore the groundbreaking AI Use Case Hub for Accreditation. Stephanie will guide you through practical AI applications, demonstrating use cases and effective AI prompts designed for deans, administrators, and faculty. Learn how to leverage AI to meet and maintain AACSB accreditation standards, while gaining actionable insights to transform your institution's approach. This session offers a unique opportunity to understand and implement AI solutions for a smoother, more effective accreditation process for your business school.
Stephanie M. Bryant
Executive Vice President and Chief Accreditation Officer, Americas
AACSB International
Associate Deans of undergraduate programs have a unique vantage point to foster powerful alumni connections. By sharing authentic student experiences and cultivating purposeful collaborations, Associate Deans can play a vital role in deepening alumni engagement and supporting development goals. This session explores strategies for partnering with deans and advancement teams to align academic and alumni relations efforts. Learn how to create impactful alumni involvement opportunities—such as mentoring, speaking, and student support—and walk away with actionable ideas, lessons learned, and space to brainstorm new approaches to alumni engagement.
Charles Wayne Keene
Associate Dean For Undergraduate Programs
The University of Iowa
Laurie Miller
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Associate Deans often find themselves in a unique position—caught between institutional vision and operational reality. This interactive session explores what it means to lead constructively from the middle. Through real-world examples and facilitated peer discussion, participants will unpack common leadership dilemmas: championing top-down initiatives they may not fully support, challenging upward when necessary, advancing their own ideas amid skepticism, and managing their own professional growth. The session will offer practical strategies for influencing across levels, building peer support networks, navigating difficult conversations, and identifying high-impact areas for associate dean leadership. Come prepared to share, reflect, and leave with insights to strengthen your leadership impact.
M. Travis Maynard
Senior Associate Dean - Academic Programs
Colorado State University
Victoria A. Parker
Associate Dean
Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, University of New Hampshire
Assurance of Learning (AoL) is more than a compliance exercise—it’s a strategic opportunity to enhance educational quality. As an associate dean, you play a pivotal role in managing this complex process. This interactive session reframes AoL through the lens of project management, focusing on how to gather stakeholder input, build faculty buy-in, design meaningful assessments, and turn data into curricular improvements. You'll explore practical strategies for creating and documenting an effective AoL plan, while balancing both direct and indirect assessment methods. Walk away with a clear framework for leading AoL as a catalyst for continuous improvement and innovation.
Jiajia Liu
Associate Dean for Students and Teaching, School of Business
University of Central Lancashire
Wafa Hakim Orman
Associate Dean, College of Business
University of Alabama in Huntsville
This fast-paced, hands-on workshop is designed for associate deans who want to drive AI integration across their institutions. In just 90 minutes, participants will assess their school’s AI readiness, identify high-impact opportunities in curriculum, faculty development, operations, and partnerships, and build a 30/60/90-day action plan. Using guided frameworks and digital tools, attendees will collaborate in small groups to stress-test ideas and leave with practical, institution-specific strategies. Whether new to AI or already exploring its potential, associate deans will gain strategic clarity and actionable next steps to accelerate transformation and enhance their school’s relevance in the AI era.
Tawnya S. Means
Assistant Dean, Educational Innovation, Chief Learning Officer, Gies College of Business
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign