NYU Stern business school dean Raghu Sundaram takes on new roles

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New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business announced earlier this month, (Feb. 7, 2024), that Indian American Dean Rangarajan “Raghu” Sundaram will be stepping down from his post July 1, to take on two new responsibilities.

Sundaram, who was appointed Dean of the prestigious school in 2018, will serve as NYU’s Senior Vice Chancellor and Head of Global Strategy starting July 1.

President of NYU Linda Mills, first made the news public Feb. 7, saying Sundaram “has been a strong relationship builder, forging valuable partnerships across the University, attracting talent from all over the world, and strengthening Stern’s outstanding Executive Board.”

“Raghu’s tenure as dean has been, in a word, outstanding. On essentially every measure—fundraising, admissions, job placements for students, strategic expansion (both globally and online), research—his deanship has been marked by success after record-setting success,” Mills said crediting him with raising more than $400 million over his 6-year tenure as Dean.

It was because of his qualities such as focus, foresight, keen analysis, and instinct for innovation, Mills said, that she has tapped him to take on the new roles, “so that his talents and strengths can be applied to the University-wide challenges. “I realize that this must be bittersweet news for the Stern community; I know Raghu will be missed. However, I am sure we take collective pride and satisfaction in knowing that the talents he brought to Stern will now be applied to the University as a whole,” Mills said.

As the head of global strategy, Sundaram will be responsible for overseeing key initiatives of the Office of the President, with a particular initial focus on the University’s finances and budget processes, a project he has already begun working on, Mills noted. He will provide guidance and leadership on a variety of strategic issues, including revenue generation, entrepreneurial initiatives, and industry partnerships.

“I also expect him to be deeply involved in our science and tech initiative and in developing a strategy for engagement with India, building on his experience in launching global degree programs and partnerships in Shanghai and in the creation of Stern at NYUAD,” Mills added.

Sundaram is credited with raising at least $400 million over his 6 years as Dean of Stern, where he also served as the Edward I. Altman professor of credit and debt markets.

During his tenure as Dean, Sundaram also launched news programs like the Andre Koo Tech MBA, the Endless Frontier Labs, and the school’s first online programs, a news article in the publication poets&quants.com said. He has also been overseeing the opening of new Stern campuses in Washington, D.C., London and Shanghai.

Since 1996, Sundaram has been teaching courses at all levels from undergraduate to Ph.D. He was part of the faculty at the  University of Rochester from 1988 to 1996, before joining Stern.

In his Feb. 7 letter to the university community, Sundaram said, “Words cannot adequately express what a privilege it has been to serve as Stern’s dean and what a gift it has been to work with the members of such an extraordinary community of faculty, students, administrators, staff, and alumni. I look forward to meeting with you in the coming weeks and months and thanking you in person for your warmth, support, and trust.”

Sundaram noted that this was his 30th year at Stern “and my sense of wonderment at the exceptional collegiality, camaraderie, and generosity of the Stern community only continues to grow. The School’s future is simply brimming with promise.”

A graduate in economics from the University of Madras, Sundaram has an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad, and his Ph.D. from Cornell University, New York.

He is being replaced at Stern by J.P. Eggers as Interim Dean while a search is conducted for a new Dean.