IAN WILLIAMSON
DEAN
UCI PAUL MERAGE SCHOOL BUSINESS
WHY: Top spot at UCI’s business school, which counts about 400 MBA students. Succeeded Eric Spangenberg, who returned full-time to the classroom.
IN THE NEWS: Paul Merage School achieved this year its highest Bloomberg Businessweek ranking since 2014, climbing 7 spots to #42 this year. Business Journal Innovator of the Year Award nominee this year. Launched the inaugural class of the Master in Management (MiM) program this fall—geared for college grads looking to land marketing, HR and project management roles. Also started this year the Part-Time Online Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program tailored for working professionals.
NOTABLE: A globally recognized expert in human resource management. Assisted executives in over 20 countries looking to improve talent recruitment and retention.
QUOTABLE: On the impact of AI on business: “In particular, to realize the economic benefits of their AI investments, leaders should give strategic consideration to which tasks they prioritize, develop a full assessment of the true costs of investment (both direct and indirect) and give consideration to the steps needed to legitimize the use of AI in the eyes of employees, customers and stakeholders.”
