New Leadership Named to AACSB International’s Board of Directors
MBA Blog / 8th February 2018
Business law, ethics, and entrepreneurship expert Caryn L. Beck-Dudley, dean of the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, has assumed the role as chair of the board of directors of AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), effective January 31, 2018.
“I am thrilled to take on this new responsibility. Sitting in the heart of Silicon Valley brings an innovative and entrepreneurial perspective to all we do,” said Beck-Dudley. “I look forward to working with my fellow deans and sharing insights as we face the challenges and opportunities of leading business schools during this disruptive time.”
Elected to the AACSB board in 2008 as a member, and as vice chair-chair elect in 2017, Beck-Dudley’s volunteer work with the association spans nearly 15 years of dedicated service. Throughout this time, her insight and expertise in the fields of law, ethics, and entrepreneurship have helped to guide more than 12 volunteer working groups or committees.
Additionally, Beck-Dudley has played an active role in the AACSB accreditation process by serving as a member and/or chair of more than 20 peer-review teams, and a member and/or chair of the Special Committee on Global Accreditation Strategy, the Continuous Improvement Review Committee, the Committee on Accreditation Policy, and the Accreditation Coordination Committee. Further, Beck-Dudley has served as a strong voice, and mentor, within AACSB’s Women Administrators in Management Education Affinity Group.
“Digital technologies are changing the knowledge and skill-sets needed in graduates, and as such, are reshaping the talent and education market,” said Thomas R. Robinson, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. “As the business education industry identifies how it can grow and pivot to meet these demands, Caryn’s passion for innovation and her insight into the entrepreneurial approach will bring an important layer of knowledge to the Board. We look forward to her guidance over the course of her term as AACSB’s chair.”
Beck-Dudley graduated magna cum laude from Utah State University in political science. She received her JD from the University of Idaho College of Law, where she was on the moot court team and the editorial board for the Idaho Law Review. She is also a member of the Academy of Legal Studies in Business, serving as past chair.
Additional Board Leadership Appointments
Alongside Beck-Dudley, the following two prominent business education leaders have begun their roles as vice chair-chair elect and secretary-treasurer on the AACSB board.
“We are also pleased to welcome John as vice chair-chair elect, and Enase as secretary-treasurer,” noted Robinson. “Each bring unique perspectives and experiences which demonstrate both the value and strengths found within the AACSB board. We look forward to their continued service and leadership in the years to come.”
John A. Elliott, dean of the School of Business at the University of Connecticut as vice chair-chair elect.
Elected to the board in 2013, John Elliott’s time has spanned more than 10 committees and affinity groups, nearly 30 accreditation peer-review teams, and organizational guidance on the Executive Committee as secretary-treasurer. Recently elected by the AACSB Business Education Alliance (membership) to the vice chair-chair elect role, Elliott assumed this role effective February 6, 2018. An expert in the field of accounting, his award-winning research has appeared in numerous journals, and his co-authored textbook spanned 11 editions. As founding president of the Financial Accounting and Reporting Section of the American Accounting Association (AAA), Elliott served on the AAA Financial Accounting Standards Committee, as well as the board of directors for the Graduate Management Admissions Council® (GMAC). He has been involved with The PhD Project since its inception and is Chair of The PhD Project Academic Advisory Council.
Enase Felicia Okonedo, dean of Lagos Business School (LBS) as secretary-treasurer.
Elected to the board in 2015, Enase Okonedo has been named secretary-treasurer, effective February 6, 2018. An accomplished professional with more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services and business education sector, Okonedo has held several leadership positions at Lagos Business School, including EMBA director, academic director, and deputy dean of academics. In recognition of her exemplary leadership and contributions to the Nigerian education sector, Okonedo was conferred as a fellow a Fellow of the Society of Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN). She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), and a Fellow of the International Academy of Management (IAM). Okonedo also served as a chairperson and member of the Association of African Business Schools (AABS) Board of Directors, and is the president of AIFA Reading Society in Nigeria.
