FALL 2022
Hail to Dean Assad
Accomplishments through leadership and collaboration.
// Academic Feature
Throughout the course of Arjang Assad’s seven-year tenure as Henry E. Haller Jr. Dean, both the undergraduate and graduate programs achieved immense success, ranging from new programs to increased talent to unprecedented rankings and career success for graduates.
This reflection comes as his tenure, which began July 1, 2015, ended June 30, 2022. He announced in September 2021 that he was stepping down and returning to the Pitt Business faculty. He was succeeded by Gene Anderson, effective August 1, 2022.
“I am deeply humbled and moved by the many kind words I have received on my tenure as dean and the expressions of good wishes for the future. These have come from faculty, staff, all members of my Board of Visitors, our alumni, and friends across Pitt,” Assad says. “I will be forever grateful to all who have written or contacted me to wish me well on what follows my transition. Thank you.”
“I am deeply humbled and moved by the many kind words I have received on my tenure as dean and the expressions of good wishes for the future.”
LEADER IN BUSINESS EDUCATION
Among his accomplishments, Dean Assad increased the school’s research and teaching capabilities by recruiting 40 percent of the current full-time faculty. He enhanced our position as a leader in business education, making it an increasingly attractive and affordable choice for students worldwide. They then enter the workforce with a rank of No.1 in “Breadth of Alumni Network in the World” (Economist MBA Ranking 2019).
His strategic partnerships on the healthcare front in Pittsburgh led to the addition of an Executive MBA in Healthcare program, joint programs with the Health Sciences schools, and a “Healthcare Leadership Series” in a collaboration with the Medical School on a non-degree program.
He launched the first online offerings at Katz and championed initiatives leading to the unprecedented growth in reputation and rankings for the College of Business Administration. Most recently, he championed the new Executive Doctor of Business Administration.
Send best wishes to Dean Assad via aassad@katz.pitt.edu
UNDERGRADUTE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Ranked No. 10 in publics and No. 28 overall (Poets&Quants)
Admissions are at an all-time high
Integration of Business Analytics into curriculum — Business Analytics Major and Minor approved in 2022
Ranked No. 2 among U.S. public business schools for “Getting Grads the Jobs They Want” in 2019 (Poets&Quants)
GRADUATE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Full-Time MBA ranked among Financial Times’ Top 100 worldwide and Top 20 among U.S. publics for eighth straight year (2022)
Created online Part-Time MBA program now ranked No. 5 (Fortune, 2022)
Executive MBA and Executive MBA in Healthcare ranked among Financial Times’ Top 100 worldwide and 8th among U.S. publics for 2021
Redesigned MBA/Master of Science Programs and introduced an Integrated Learning Model
New Executive Doctor of Business Administration to begin Fall 2022
Dean Assad with his administrative team