Dear GW Business Community,
I hope you are having a happy new year. This is my first monthly message as interim dean of the George Washington University School of Business. In case we have not met before, I have served on the faculty at GW Business since 2001, and am currently a professor of marketing, as well as a professor of strategic management and public policy. My recent research has explored how business and marketing in our society intersect with consumer outcomes and public policy, with an emphasis on housing and financial markets.
I have also been proud to serve as vice dean for strategy at our school, where my objective has been to identify ways that our community can draw from and build upon our strengths to make a broader impact, whether that be through public engagement, partnerships and collaborations, or by advancing priorities identified during our accreditation processes.
As 2024 gets underway, I recall what President Granberg said in the message toward the end of the GW 2023 Holiday Video, “As we look toward the promise of a new year and new opportunities, let us remember that we are the George Washington University and we shine our brightest together.” My more than two decades of experience here at GW has shown that this is indeed true, and my goal as your interim dean is to do all that I can to make sure that the GW School of Business is fully prepared for our next leader.
It is exciting to reflect on all of the great work that has taken place over the last year. If you have not seen it yet, I encourage you to take a look at the highlights in this Research Year in Review. It is a snapshot of the excellent research achievements by our colleagues and students at GW Business and across the GW community in 2023.
Our impact in research is among the many areas of progress that our school should be proud of having achieved. In the past month alone, our colleagues have also demonstrated their commitment to scholarly service: N. Sharon Hill, professor in the Department of Management, received an Outstanding Editorial Review Board Reviewer Award from Organization Science, for timely, rigorous and thoughtful assessments as a member of the journal’s review board; and Sanjay Jain, associate professor of industry in the Department of Decision Sciences, received a Distinguished Service Award from the Simulation Society of Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) for exceptional service to the simulation community.
The new year is about being hopeful for what is ahead. Please join us for GW School of Business Diversity & Allyship Week (February 5-9). This week is co-hosted by our Diversity Council and the F. David Fowler Career Center. It will include a special George Talks Business session featuring Sharifa A. Anderson, senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Fannie Mae, along with a variety of events with opportunities to learn and network, as well as engage in important dialogues around DEI.
Thank you to our students, faculty, and staff for your continued efforts in support of our academic mission. It is a privilege to continue serving alongside you in this new capacity as interim dean. If you have questions about the search process for our new dean, please direct them to the search committee chair, Professor Angela Gore. I look forward to doing all that I can to continue advancing the GW School of Business. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or to simply introduce yourself.
Regards,
Vanessa G. Perry, M.B.A., Ph.D.
Interim Dean
Professor of Marketing, Strategic Management and Public Policy
School of Business
The George Washington University