You took the reins as Robinson’s seventh dean in July 2014. What has been the college’s greatest achievement in the 10 years since then?

The defining accomplishment of the past decade that I am most proud of is Robinson’s transformation into an innovation engine with a passion for demonstrating that students from all backgrounds can pioneer new businesses and lead innovative organizations.

This vision took shape within the first 100 days of the new leadership team's installation and has been brought to life through the dedication of the entire Robinson community. Today, this spirit of innovation is deeply embedded in the college’s culture; it shapes how Robinson operates, perceives itself, and swiftly adapts as one of the ten largest business schools in the United States.

Our commitment to championing students of all backgrounds has established Robinson as one of the nation's most forward-thinking business schools. With the recent addition of our fourth Innovations That Inspire recognition from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), Robinson has received more of these prestigious awards than any other U.S. business school.

In those early days, we prioritized connecting with key stakeholders, including Robinson alumni in C-suite roles, to understand the changing landscape and how Robinson could serve evolving needs. These discussions highlighted the profound impact of digital technology on business strategy and the skills companies would require from the next generation of talent. It became clear that the traditional business school model needed to be revised, and that Robinson needed to redefine itself for the 21st century. Transforming Robinson has been a challenging and rewarding journey of continuous adaptation and growth.

What has transforming Robinson entailed?

We pursued a three-pronged approach to transform Robinson.

• Expanding Faculty Expertise. We expanded our faculty by recruiting experts from disciplines not traditionally associated with business schools - computer and data scientists, software engineers, STEM academics, and scholars specializing in innovation and creativity. This infusion of new expertise redefined the boundaries of business education and research at Robinson and equipped the college to better address the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the business world.
• Creating an Interdisciplinary Culture. We fostered a culture that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling faculty from traditional business disciplines to work with newly recruited, non-traditional scholars. This synergy has driven groundbreaking research and created novel academic programs.
• Broadening Business Partnerships. We expanded partnerships to allow faculty and students new ways to collaborate with executives on real-world challenges, allowing students to develop and practice an innovative mindset before graduation.

Moving to specifics, what does Robinson’s transformation look like?

Robinson’s transformation includes new academic units, research labs, degree programs, courses, and certificate offerings—many of which are accessible to all Georgia State students, not just business majors.

The foundation for change was the establishment of two cornerstone academic units launched in 2016, both integrating faculty from traditional and non-traditional disciplines, a unique approach seen at only a few business schools.

• Institute for Insight. This institute brings Robinson students, faculty, and industry partners together to solve complex problems using analytics, data science, and big data technologies. Academic offerings include an M.S. in Data Science and Analytics and an AI Innovation in Business graduate certificate. Within the institute, four specialized labs tackle research in machine learning and gen AI (Insight Lab), blockchain (Fintech Lab), social media analytics (Social Media Intelligence Lab), and legal analytics, a joint effort with Georgia State’s College of Law (Legal Analytics Lab). The Institute’s Insight Sprints are semester-long applied research collaborations among students, faculty, and industry partners and are a hallmark of these labs, generating actionable insights for companies. Learn more about the Institute for Insight.
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute (ENI). ENI empowers students and community entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life through degree and certificate programs, workshops, mentorship, and funding. ENI offers a B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship, an interdisciplinary minor available to all Georgia State students, and specialized degrees in Media Entrepreneurship (with the Creative Media Industries Institute), Social Entrepreneurship (with the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies), and Biomedical Science and Enterprise (with the Institute for Biomedical Science). The Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund, ENI’s accelerator, supports students, alumni, and community entrepreneurs in launching digitally enabled startups across various industries, extending beyond traditional tech enterprises. Learn more about the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute.

Robinson has also introduced groundbreaking programs that extend beyond business-specific courses.

• WomenLead. Launched in 2015 with a three-hour WomenLead in Business course, WomenLead has expanded to include sections focusing on the arts, entrepreneurship, policy, science, and technology. Led by faculty across various colleges, including the College of the Arts and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, WomenLead is open to all students and is designed to foster leadership skills across fields. Learn more about WomenLead.
• Panther Immersion Programs. Originally launched as Panthers on Wall Street, this program now spans several cities and colleges, offering immersive learning experiences for students across the U.S. The program includes Panthers in the District in Washington, D.C. in partnership with the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Panthers in the Valley in San Francisco in collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences, Panthers in Charlotte, NC for fintech students, Panthers in Chicago, and Panthers on Peachtree, a local Atlanta immersion. Learn more about Panther Immersion Programs.
• Certificate Programs. Robinson has introduced several undergraduate certificate programs, some accessible to all Georgia State students, including certificates in management consulting and risk management. Learn more about Robinson’s certificate programs.

A significant expansion in our business partnerships has also been key. Insight Sprints, which we’ve conducted since 2016 with marquee companies like Mercedes-Benz USA, Cox Media, and Truist, offer unparalleled applied learning. Bill Rogers, Robinson alum and CEO of Truist, calls the Insight Sprints “tremendously valuable,” while Lars Minns, CHRO of Mercedes-Benz USA, commends Robinson’s “agility and responsiveness.”

Our business partnerships extend to curriculum design, contributing to the refreshed part-time MBA and our new online MBA launched this fall. Our redesigned M.S. in Information Systems now includes a cybersecurity concentration designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Concurrently, over the past decade, the perception of our graduate programs has significantly risen. In 2014, only four of Robinson's master's programs were nationally ranked; today, that number has tripled to twelve. Enrollment has also grown by nearly 20 percent, from 8,000 students in fall 2014 to 9,300 in fall 2024.

And true to our Georgia State DNA, we are passionate about undergraduate student success and have introduced innovative cohort programs, including Robinson's Undergraduate Research Experience, a fellowship program for those considering careers in business research, and the Robinson Immersive Sophomore Experience which includes a cornerstone course, internship opportunities, mentoring, and corporate site visits.

Looking ahead, what are Robinson’s top priorities?

Since 2014, Robinson’s vision has been to stay profoundly relevant in the digital revolution for all stakeholders. Our top priority now is leading in generative AI. As MIT economist Andrew McAfee stated, “Once in a while, a technology comes along that is so powerful and so broadly applicable that it accelerates the normal march of economic progress. I believe that generative AI belongs in that category.” Robinson is seizing this pivotal moment to harness AI and solidify its position as a market leader.

Current and future projects include an AI-centered master’s degree, a college-wide research program focused on societal impact, new stackable graduate certificates, an AI innovation “sandbox” for students and faculty to conduct AI-related research, and over 30 newly introduced or revised courses this fall. Faculty and students have already completed Robinson’s first applied research projects in generative AI, collaborating with strategic business partners. Stay tuned…

Any parting thoughts?

I’m proud of the strides we've made to position Robinson for lasting success. While it's exciting to see so many of our initiatives scaling and making an impact, what inspires me most is the increased collaboration among our community, sparking fresh ideas and driving essential change.

"What inspires me most is the increased collaboration among our community, sparking fresh ideas and driving essential change."

I look forward to building on this momentum as we continue to show that students from all backgrounds can graduate equipped with the knowledge, skills, and innovative mindset to become the next generation of changemakers in ways we can't yet imagine.