March 9, 2023

Appointment of the Next Willem Kooyker Dean of the Zicklin School of Business

Dear Baruch College Community:

It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Bruce W. Weber to the position of Willem Kooyker Dean of the Zicklin School of Business, effective Monday, July 17, subject to the approval of the CUNY Board of Trustees.

Dr. Weber brings a collaborative and strategic approach to Baruch, with over 30 years of higher education experience including as a faculty member at Baruch College and London Business School (UK), and 12 years as dean and professor of the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. In these roles, Dr. Weber grew alumni engagement, established impactful public-private partnerships, and led multiple strategic initiatives, while maintaining his impressive research productivity in financial technology innovations and digital transformation.

Highlights of Dr. Weber’s achievements during his tenure as Lerner College dean include:

• Launching University of Delaware’s first cross-college PhD program in Financial Services Analytics with the College of Engineering
• Raising the research profile and enhancing the scholarly climate at Lerner College by growing support and establishing clear standards across five departments
• Enhancing and improving a climate of inclusion through innovative programs, outreach and education

Dr. Weber received his MS and PhD in Decision Sciences from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and his AB in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University.

Reporting to the Provost, Dean Weber will be the chief academic and administrative officer of the Zicklin School and responsible for the strategic, operational, and financial direction of the School. In this role, he will work in close partnership with deans of the Weissman and Marxe schools to promote inter-school collaboration and innovation. As a member of President S. David Wu’s cabinet, he will work closely with senior officers across the College on the implementation of the College’s Strategic Plan 2023–28 while leading the Zicklin team to align and implement the school’s strategy. He will lead programmatic innovation, facilitate student success, promote faculty research and scholarly impact, foster external support and partnership, and cultivate a diverse, inclusive, and dynamic working and learning environment for the Zicklin community.

As we welcome Dr. Weber to the Baruch community, I would like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to Paquita Davis-Friday for serving as Interim Dean since January this year. Dr. Davis-Friday will continue in her role as interim dean until June 30, and I look forward to our ongoing collaboration.

Best wishes,

Dr. Linda Essig

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs