Rochester Business Journal

Rochester Institute of Technology has named dt ogilvie, a Rutgers University professor, to serve as dean of the E. Philip Saunders College of Business, the college announced Tuesday. She takes over for Ashok Rao, who is retiring.

Ogilvie comes to RIT from State University of New Jersey, Rutgers Business School at Newark-New Brunswick, where she serves as a professor of business strategy and urban entrepreneurship. She is founding director of the Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development and founding director of the Scholars Training and Enrichment Program at Rutgers.

The new dean, who does not capitalize her name, joins the college Aug. 1.

“The Saunders College is starting a new chapter, and I am pleased that Dr. ogilvie has joined the RIT community to help lead and guide the business school to its next level of greatness,” said Jeremy Haefner, RIT provost. “She brings with her an extensive international academic reputation in strategic management, collaborative economic development and entrepreneurship. In addition, she has a deep and rich corporate experience, having worked with the Southland Corp. as the strategic planning manager.”

She earned her Ph.D. in strategic management from the University of Texas at Austin and also holds an executive MBA degree from Southern Methodist University. Her research is in the areas of creativity, design thinking, ingenuity, strategic decision-making, women’s leadership and entrepreneurship and economic development, RIT officials said.

Five of her research papers have won awards and she co-edited the 2007 best-selling special issue of the Journal of Business Strategy on design and business. She has taught courses in China, Singapore and France and created annual courses on doing business overseas.

“I am so excited to be joining the RIT community as dean of the E. Philip Saunders College of Business,” ogilvie said. “This is a fine institution with great students, faculty and staff. I look forward to working with everyone to help Saunders enrich the educational experience of all of our students and reach its full potential and rightful reputation in the academic business community.”

Rao, who joined RIT as dean of the Saunders College in 2007 and will retire at the end of the academic year. During his tenure, Rao has made significant strides in raising the visibility of entrepreneurship and business, growing first-year retention to 94 percent, increasing diversity of faculty and students increased and more than doubling faculty research, RIT officials noted.

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