Adelphi University Appoints Dr. Rajib N. Sanyal as the New Dean of the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business

Rajib N. Sanyal, Ph.D.

Following a comprehensive international search, Gayle D. Insler, Ph.D., Adelphi University provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, announces the appointment of Rajib N. Sanyal, Ph.D., as the new dean of the AACSB International accredited Robert B. Willumstad School of Business. Dr. Sanyal will succeed Anthony Libertella, Ph.D., J.D., who is retiring from the dean’s position after serving in that role for 11 of his 15 years at Adelphi. Dr. Sanyal is an internationally recognized scholar and is currently the dean of the Miller College of Business at Ball State University in Indiana. He will take the helm of the Willumstad School on July 1, 2015.

“Throughout the search process, Dr. Sanyal’s capacity to lead change and engage internal and external audiences in agenda-setting was evident,” said Dr. Insler.  “Having been a successful dean at both Ball State and Northern Michigan, he has the experience and vision to lead the Willumstad School of Business, and I enthusiastically support the committee’s recommendation. Dr. Sanyal’s commitment to scholarship—reflected in nearly 50 peer-reviewed publications—will further elevate the Willumstad School’s recognition in the business education community. I am pleased to welcome him to our community.

“I extend my appreciation to the members of the search committee who worked diligently since January to bring this vital search to a successful conclusion and sincerely thank Dean Anthony Libertella for his leadership and service. I look forward to having Tony with us in the fall when he rejoins the Willumstad faculty,” concluded Dr. Insler.

An expert in industrial and labor relations, Dr. Sanyal earned his undergraduate degrees from the University of Calcutta and the University of Delhi, a Ph.D. in industrial relations from Georgia State University and an M.S. in industrial relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is an active scholar and has published extensively in numerous academic journals and is the author of a textbook on international management.  He has served on the executive boards of the North American Simulation & Gaming Association, Academy of International Business Northeast U.S. Region, and the Indiana Council of World Affairs. Since 2009, Dr. Sanyal has been the dean of Ball State University’s Miller College of Business. Prior to that, from 2005 to 2009, he was the dean of the College of Business at Northern Michigan University.  Dr. Sanyal was an American Council on Education Fellow at George Mason University from 2004 to 2005.  He held faculty appointments at the business school of The College of New Jersey where, from 2000 to 2004, he served as a division head of accountancy, economics, finance and international business as well as director of the nonprofit management certificate program.

“I look forward to the opportunity to lead the Willumstad School of Business and see enormous potential to enhance the School’s already powerful connections within and beyond the campus, particularly given its prime location in one of the world’s most dynamic places,” Dr. Sanyal said. “I have been warmly and enthusiastically welcomed into the Adelphi community, especially through the support of President Scott, Provost Insler and President-Elect Riordan. During the search, I was very impressed with the faculty’s commitment to providing a top-flight education. The faculty constitute the heart of an academic enterprise and their optimism and desire to further elevate the learning experiences of the students resonated deeply with me. I thank the members of the search committee for their diligence and to everyone in the Adelphi family whose enthusiasm and eagerness convinced me that this is a leadership position that should not be passed over.”

Highlights of Dr. Sanyal’s accomplishments at Ball State include: active participation in the University’s $200 million fundraising campaign; extensive engagement and cultivation of alumni; engagement with the regional community through 15 external advisory boards for the various academic programs;  growth in  student enrollment through curriculum changes including creation of majors that prepare students for careers in growing sectors; enhancement of student support services; and leading a campus-wide interdisciplinary project to foster  a research, teaching and outreach agenda in healthcare studies that resulted in the creation of a Global Health Institute research center.

Adelphi University was assisted in the search by Korn/Ferry.

The Robert B. Willumstad School of Business is named for the current chairman of the Adelphi University Board of Trustees, who, in 2012, gave a transformative gift to the University. Accredited by AACSB International, the WSB combines the dynamic energy of a large university with the familiarity of a small community, offering the best of both. The School also seeks to leverage its proximity to New York and its vast alumni network to offer students invaluable internships and networking opportunities.

The WSB offers B.B.A. degrees in Accounting and Management and B.S. degrees in Finance, Marketing and Business and a B.A. in Economics. Undergraduate students, particularly those who pursue a B.B.A. or B.S. degree, can take advantage of the School’s five-year bachelor’s plus one-year M.B.A. For Adelphi non-business majors, the WSB offers business minors and clusters.

Nearly 400 graduate students are enrolled in both the WSB’s traditional M.B.A. program, with specializations in eight areas, and its accelerated M.B.A. for working professionals, which can be completed in 17 months. The WSB offers joint degrees with the Adelphi University School of Social Work and the Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies. For working professionals, the WSB offers certificates in accounting, finance and human resource management.