The academic year saw the School of Business advancing its strengths. Influential faculty research appeared in top-ranked academic journals. We convened gatherings that connected the business and finance sectors with global changemakers. And we continued to provide powerful experiential learning opportunities to our students.
Technology touches all aspects of our lives—at an unprecedented pace—and several of our faculty members stood out for their scholarship addressing technology’s impact on the markets. Associate Professor of Decision Sciences Long He’s work on sustainable transportation appeared in impactful publications this year. Social media and crowdfunding were the focus of much-cited works by Yi-Chun “Chad” Ho, an associate professor of information systems and technology management who received this year’s Senior Faculty Research Award. And Professor of Decision Sciences Miguel Lejeune published research on mathematical models that optimize the use of drones to deliver medication for drug overdoses.
This research is particularly noteworthy because it dovetails with the school’s strategic plan, which underscores innovative research with impact.
Our faculty published in premier academic journals, held leadership positions within their academic societies, and emerged as among the most-cited experts in their fields. They also engaged with their students in meaningful ways. Vontrese Pamphile, an assistant professor of strategic management and public policy, was named by Poets and Quants as among the “Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors.” Donald Buzinkai, a teaching assistant professor of accountancy, received the 2025 Dean’s Teaching Award.
The School of Business was also at the forefront in organizing the university’s Future of Finance and Trade in Africa 2.0 conference featuring a presentation by Botswana’s Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, a GW alumnus. African Central Bank officials also took part in the conference, joining other government officials and business leaders in discussions of realigned partnerships, tech corridors, and new markets.
The conference leveraged GW Business’s expertise in bringing together global leaders, policymakers, experts, and visionaries to move ideas into action. It was also an example of the many extraordinary out-of-classroom opportunities available to our students. The Global & Experiential Education Office at GW Business also advanced experiential education through its programs, both domestic and international, and the F. David Fowler Career Center expanded its 360Careers program, which connects students to consultancy opportunities and mentoring by high-profile alumni.
The school’s signature Consulting Abroad Program for MBA students also deepened students learning in a far-reaching way.
Learning by doing is one of our fortes. The GW Investment Institute in the School of Business, where students learn to invest and then help manage $9 million in endowment funds, broadened its reach by launching a stock pitch competition. We also celebrated our students’ participation in case competitions across the country and the award-winning entrepreneurial ideas they put forward at our Pitch George competition and the GW New Venture Competition.
Our academic rigor and excellence were noticed. U.S. News & World Report ranked our international business program as fifth in the world, our health care MBA as 16th best, and our undergraduate business program as No. 38. The Financial Times ranked our school as the 32nd best business school in the country. We were also spotlighted as among the Top 50 Graduate Schools for Entrepreneurship by Princeton Review.
Alumni made our school stronger by their service on advisory boards within the school and by hiring our students for internships and jobs. They took part in career discussions, funded scholarships, and mentored the next generation of business leaders. I was delighted to interview Utz Brands Chairperson Dylan Lissette, BBA ’93, and PopUp Bagels President Jamie Lissette, BA ’93, as part of our George Talks Business series.
We also reached into our local community. Our faculty led the best-in-class Executive Education Venture Advancing Talented Entrepreneurs (ELEVATE) initiative, helping small and medium-sized businesses in D.C. to acquire the skills they need to grow their operations, expand their workforces, and increase their revenues. The program, developed by the Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence (CFEE) at GW Business, operates in partnership with The Coalition.
The Department of Finance, meanwhile, expanded its FinEcon Academy, which introduces students in D.C. public high schools to career and educational opportunities in the financial services and real estate sectors. This year, in addition to one-day immersion programs each semester, we held a weeklong FinEcon Academy that culminated with impressive stock pitches from a dozen high school juniors and seniors.
Completing my service as interim dean, I am inspired by the talent and dedication of our faculty, staff, and students. Together we are contributing to a world shaped by innovation, global engagement, and ethical business leadership.
Dr. Vanessa Perry
Interim Dean