Hanna Renaldi's Blog: UCLA Anderson Dean Judy Olian Leaves to Become Quinnipiac University President

UCLA Anderson Dean Judy Olian Leaves to Become Quinnipiac University President

Judy Olian, who has served as UCLA’s Anderson School of Management’s dean since 2006, will leave her position at the end of the academic year to become Quinnipiac’s first female president.

During Olian’s 12 years as dean, Anderson started research centers and degree programs such as the business analytics program that began this past fall. She also helped start the Anderson Venture Accelerator, which aids students in starting their own businesses. She additionally initiated courses including both online and in-class studies. Olian helped increase the gender diversity of both Anderson’s faculty and students, and fundraised almost $400 million for the school. While serving as dean, she also wrote a weekly syndicated newspaper column and hosted a monthly TV program on current business topics. Prior to joining UCLA Anderson, Olian was dean and professor of management at Penn State, as well as senior associate dean at the University of Maryland.

The fight for gender diversity was one of the biggest of her career at Anderson. Through her hard work, Olian says: “We have the highest number of female students and are right in the middle of the mix of faculty gender diversity around 23%. We have come a long way. Our culture is much more attuned and sensitive. We handled it with a lot of self-reflection. This is a journey that is ubiquitous, and I am proud that we took the steps and maybe helped others learn from us.”

Olian says that she is very excited about her move to Quinnipiac. “I’m attracted to the purpose and mission of Quinnipiac, and its comfort in leading change. I’ve seen a remarkable trajectory of growth in this university. I am eager to partner across the community in building on that.”

Olian will replace John Lahey, who will be retiring at the end of June. The nationwide search for a new president took nine months. According to William Weldon, the chairman of Quinnipiac’s Board of Trustees, “We are confident she will build on the university’s current momentum and strong foundation and will lead Quinnipiac to further impact and national recognition.”