October 2026 Message from the Dean
Dear Colleagues,
I hope you’re enjoying the fall weather and the amazing colors around our building and across campus. Thank you to everyone who participated in our annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest. It’s a fun tradition and a great way to bring our community together this time of year. Congratulations to the Office of Advancement for their winning pumpkin, “Welcome to Blockbuster & the ’90s”! You can check out all of the creative entries here.
Also, I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue serving as dean of Michigan Ross for another five years. It has been a tremendous honor to lead the school over the past four years, and I’m proud of what we have accomplished together. From opening our Los Angeles campus and advancing strategic initiatives like AI@Ross to supporting transformative research and launching innovative academic programs — including our new undergraduate dual-degree program with the College of Engineering and changes to the MBA experience — we are expanding Ross’s reach, strengthening our reputation, and increasing our impact. I am excited about what lies ahead and the opportunities we have to build on our momentum.
We’ve also had an impressive lineup of events so far this semester. Thank you to all the faculty, staff, and teams whose hard work and collaboration make these programs possible. They are an important part of how we engage our students, connect with business leaders, and bring the Ross community together.
- Earlier this month, the Ross Executive Education team hosted their first open enrollment event at our LA campus. It drew more than 70 participants from 30+ companies for two days of faculty-led sessions, industry perspectives, networking, and interactive experiences exploring the challenges and opportunities shaping leadership today.
- Last week, we held our third annual Michigan Ross Private Equity and Alternative Investments Summit in New York City. About 75 alumni and industry leaders attended the summit to discuss emerging trends, share perspectives, and make new connections. This signature event convenes business leaders from across the private equity and alternative investments industry.
- Last month, we welcomed our Ross School Advisory Board back to campus and also hosted JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon and Boston Consulting Group Global Chair Rich Lesser in Ann Arbor. I enjoyed hearing their perspectives on how companies and industries can navigate the rapid changes driven by AI and the geo-political landscape, as well as their thoughtful advice for students preparing for their careers. Next semester, we look forward to our next speaker in this series, Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist.
Last week, I also attended the AACSB board meeting and annual Deans Conference, where I connected with business school leaders from around the world to gather insights into emerging trends and challenges to help ensure Ross stays ahead of the curve.
Switching gears, I want to mention a special recognition. The University Record highlighted the growth of our action-based learning programs over the past year, which engaged more than 1,000 students and 173 sponsoring organizations involved in nearly 200 Multidisciplinary Action Projects and Consulting Studio projects. Please join me in thanking the faculty and staff who make these valuable experiences possible and help showcase the exceptional work happening at Ross.
In closing, I want to encourage everyone who is able to vote to do so. You can find helpful information about voting on Election Day on this university web page, including where Ann Arbor residents can vote in person before Nov. 3. Also, check out this month’s feature story, which highlights a few Ross community members about why voting is important to them.
As always, I welcome opportunities to connect with you during my open office hours. My next in-person office hours will be Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 4:15 p.m. in the Davidson Winter Garden.
Thank you for all that you do for Michigan Ross.
Kind regards,
Sharon
