The business school will begin a national search for a new dean during the fall semester
8/25/21 By Mark Kotowicz
SOM Dean - Provided by Binghamton University
A search will soon begin for a new dean for the Binghamton University School of Management (SOM) as the current dean announces his plans to step down.
On Aug. 25, Donald Nieman, BU provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, announced via Dateline that Upinder Dhillon, dean of SOM and a Koffman Scholar of Finance, will step down from his role as dean following the spring 2022 semester. Dhillon, who joined BU as an assistant professor in 1987, became the dean in 2001, only a few years after his promotion to the professor rank in 1997. He plans to step down to return as a professor for the University and remain a Koffman Scholar.
Dhillon oversaw many changes and improvements during his 20-year tenure. He established private fundraisers and galas in New York City, which increased annual giving and SOM endowment sevenfold and ninefold respectively, according to the Dateline Addition. He further helped create both the Zurack Trading Room, a room designed for real-time trading and information on stocks, and the Innovation Lab, a recently completed research and development space for student product ideas.
The successor to the former dean is planned to be announced during summer 2022.
Dhillon expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as dean of SOM and hopes his tenure leaves a lasting legacy to further develop the business school.
“It has been a privilege and pleasure to serve for over 20 years as dean,” Dhillon said in a statement. “I believe that [SOM] is well positioned to begin an exciting new phase in its development. I am indebted to the entire [BU] community for its many contributions, support and wise counsel to help make my tenure as dean successful.”
During Dhillon’s tenure, SOM went from an unranked Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program to top 50 in public schools according to the Poets & Quants ranking. Nieman credits Dhillon’s creative mind and bold thinking for making SOM into a competitive and high-tiered school.
“[Dhillon] is a wonderful colleague and a leader who is deeply respected across campus,” Nieman said in a statement. “His strategic thinking, vision, commitment to mentoring faculty and students and collaborative approach have made SOM premier.”
Michael Linarello, a senior majoring in business administration, believes Dhillon has left a mark on the number of resources available to students.
“In my experience as a student here, I do believe SOM has been managed effectively,” Linarello said. “Students and their needs are taken care of and they have the ability to discuss any issues they may face. The resources for the students are limitless. They are able to access any materials they require for their classes.”
Thomas Costa, a junior majoring in accounting, said he thinks SOM teaches pragmatic skills and offers resources that will give him an edge when applying for jobs.
“I hope they continue the great job everyone running the department has done now to make BU one of the most highly desired public business schools in the country,” Costa said.
“Overall, I think SOM does a really great job. They are really helpful with finding students career opportunities for when they graduate and give them a solid business foundation to take into the real world.”