July 13, 2020
Dear Members of the Carnegie Mellon Community:
Following an international search, I am delighted to announce that Dr. Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, renowned educator, researcher, and financial and economics expert, has been selected as the new dean of CMU’s Tepper School of Business. She will also hold a faculty appointment as a professor of finance. Isabelle will begin her new role on October 15.
Isabelle currently serves as dean of the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University. During her tenure at Desautels, which began in 2015, she led the launch of several Master of Management programs, including Master in Retailing, Master in Finance and Master in Analytics. She also created a series of interdisciplinary minors in entrepreneurship for undergraduate students as well as multi-level programs in data analytics.
Additionally, Isabelle led the establishment of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, which is dedicated to tapping expertise across multiple disciplines such as neuroscience, computer science, architecture and design as well as health and sustainability, and linking them to resources in management and entrepreneurship to shape the future of retail.
Prior to joining McGill, Isabelle served as associate dean of undergraduate programs at the George Washington University School of Business and previously as the chair of the Finance Department. In her role as associate dean, she developed a new Bachelor of Science degree program and transformed the university’s Bachelor of Business Administration by requiring students in both degree programs to pursue a major or minor outside the business school.
With her leadership experience, scholarly work and professional expertise, I am confident that Isabelle is particularly well-positioned to lead the Tepper School’s renowned interdisciplinary programming, including initiatives that unite researchers, students and industry leaders to advance work that shapes business and society. She will work closely with students, faculty and staff within Tepper and across campus to create even more collaborative academic and research opportunities, and to continue the school’s efforts related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
This appointment follows a rigorous year-long international search from a pool of highly qualified, diverse and exceptional candidates. I want to thank the dean search committee, co-chaired by professors Sridhar R. Tayur and Anita Williams Woolley, for their outstanding work.
Isabelle succeeds Dean Bob Dammon, who during his nine-year tenure helped establish the Tepper School as one of the nation’s premier business schools. On behalf of the entire university community, I thank Bob for his outstanding leadership of the Tepper School and for his commitment to ensure a smooth transition. He will return to the school’s faculty full time after leaving the deanship.
You can learn more about the new dean of the Tepper School of Business, Dr. Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, by reading the announcement that will be posted on the Carnegie Mellon website later today.
Please join me in congratulating Isabelle on her new position and welcoming her to the CMU community.
Regards,
Jim Garrett
Provost
Thomas Lord Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering