Man of the people -- The sequel

The new academic year started this week, but the biggest news was the introduction of our new dean, David Schmittlein, to the MIT Sloan community. 

A new dean is a huge event for a school, at least for faculty and staff.  Either directly or indirectly, the dean is our boss.  But how much does a dean matter to students?

At MIT Sloan, it matters a lot. 

When I started my MBA at Wharton (gulp) 25 years ago, I had no clue who the dean of the school was.  I still don’t.  The dean was completely irrelevant to me: a remote figure who had minimal (if any) engagement with students and no impact on our lives.  Perhaps that’s changed there, perhaps not.  It’s a big school, and a big ship to run.

Even if I hadn’t known him briefly when he was my professor at Wharton, here I’d still be able to know David Schmittlein in his capacity as dean because here the dean is engaged with students.  Our prior dean, Dick Schmalensee, appeared regularly at student events, from Town Hall meetings to the MIT Sloan Follies.  He was so well known that he could be charmingly parodied when he stepped down (see video).  The cover of our most recent alumni magazine captures him well: informal, friendly, involved with students.

MIT Sloan expects a lot from a dean, from world-class scholarship and guiding vision to administrative leadership and fundraising prowess.  And that’s only the beginning.

Amid all the more formal introductory hoopla, the incoming dean appeared at Town Hall this week, where the whoops and applause from students were genuine, as were the smiles and gracious words from David Schmittlein.  In various events this week he’s already had a chance to display his warmth, humor, and humanity.  We want those things, too.  Quite frankly, the students expect them. 

The incoming MBA class of 2009 got a chance to see their new dean in their first week of school.  He won’t be a figurehead who shows up next at their commencement.  He’ll be in the thick of things, whether he likes it or not.  Chances are, he’ll like it.  And I predict we’ll like him a lot, too.

- Posted by Tracy Carlson