Dipankar Rai, Ph.D., has been named associate dean of the Madden School of Business, effective July 1, 2022. In this role, Rai will play a key role in achieving the academic mission and coordinating the school's strategic plan. He will provide leadership for the school’s undergraduate and graduate academic degree programs and become involved in a wide range of duties, including fostering strong relationships with Madden faculty and between Madden and other schools, departments and programs within the College. He will also work to maintain continued accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
“Having received my education at Jesuit institutions during my formative years, Le Moyne’s commitment to caring for the whole person resonates with my values as an academic and as a human being,” said Rai, who joined the College in 2015 and was previously the director of the school’s marketing program, where he serves as an associate professor. “During my time at the Madden School of Business, I have been grateful to have the opportunity to work with colleagues and students from across the institution. I am deeply honored to have this opportunity to further the Madden School's mission of being the conscientious voice within business education by embodying the Jesuit principles of compassion, integrity, and service to others."
Rai will replace Bill Barrett ’78, who has served as associate dean since January 2020. Barrett, who worked for nearly 40 years at Ernst & Young (EY), will continue as associate dean through the spring 2022 semester. Prior to becoming associate dean, Barrett had been an adjunct professor in the Madden School since retiring from EY in 2016.
"I'm confident that Dipankar will excel in this role and that his marketing expertise will benefit the school as it continues to grow and launch new programs and initiatives," said Madden Dean Jim Joseph '83. "I would also like to thank Bill for his work and dedication to his alma mater. Bill's professionalism and years of real-world experience brought an important perspective to his work as associate dean."
Rai received his MBA and Ph.D. in marketing from Binghamton University, State University of New York. His research is driven by a desire to deepen insights into consumer behavior. He conducts behavioral research to understand consumer decision-making and its psychological underpinnings, generating insights that address substantive problems in the domains of marketing and consumer well-being. Taking an interdisciplinary approach that draws from psychology and behavioral economics, he focuses on understanding the impact of marketing strategies on consumer decisions. His research has been published in journals such as the Journal of Business Research, and the Journal of Consumer Marketing. He applies this knowledge to offer innovative undergraduate and graduate courses in digital marketing, marketing analytics, and judgment and decision making, among others.