Interim Dean Angappa Gunasekaran takes up post permanently
Dr. Angappa Gunasekaran has been appointed Dean of the Charlton College of Business at UMass Dartmouth. Dr. Gunasekaran is currently the interim Dean.
"Over the last few months, Dr. Gunasakaran has impressed us all with his collaborative spirit and dedication to student success," said Chancellor Divina Grossman. "He brings a wealth of experience and perspective to job of Dean, and we look forward to working with him to expand the college's positive impact on the lives of individual students as well as the regional economy."
Interim Provost Alex Fowler noted, "The enthusiastic support Dr. Gunasekaran received from the faculty and staff of the Charlton College" during the search process, and added: "Dr. Gunasekaran is extremely collegial and hardworking and I am thrilled that he has agreed to join the administration in this important role. I have great expectations for a bright future in the Charlton College of Business under his leadership."
"I am extremely happy and honored to accept the role of Dean," said Dr. Gunasekaran. "The Charlton College of Business has an outstanding faculty that is dedicated to a model of teaching, research and engagement that creates a transformative learning experience for undergraduates and graduate students. I firmly believe the Charlton College is positioned for an exciting future and I am eager to continue to work my colleagues to make that future a reality."
Prior to serving as interim Dean, Dr. Gunasekaran served as the Chairperson of the Department of Decision and Information Sciences at the Charlton College of Business,starting in 2006. During that time, he obtained $4 million worth of grant funding and in-kind support for academic activity within the department.
A member of the faculty since 1998, Dr. Gunasakaran is one of the University's most esteemed scholars. An expert in operations management and information systems, he has published approximately 250 journal articles and given many invited talks, as well as serving on the editorial board of several journals.
He is involved with national and international collaborative projects funded by both private and government agencies. He has organized numerous international workshops and conferences in the emerging areas of operations management and information systems. He has consulted with companies and been a visiting professor at several universities around the globe.
Dr. Gunasekaran is the founding Director of Business Innovation Research Center, which was created to conduct training and applied research in support of regional economic development. He recently established the SouthCoast Business Innovation Laboratory in partnership with the Advanced Technology Manufacturing Center in Fall River.
More about Charlton College of Business
Named for retail giant Earle P. Charlton, the business school embodies his focus on quality, ethical principles, and a driving entrepreneurial spirit. In business education around the world, the "Gold Standard" of internationally recognized excellence is accreditation by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Fewer than 30% of the business programs in the United States have achieved this distinguished accreditation. Charlton is a proud member of this prestigious group and the only business program in southern Massachusetts whose faculty wear the badge of the AACSB.