A New Dean in New York
August 7, 2023
On July 17, Bruce W. Weber, PhD, became the Willem Kooyker Dean of the Zicklin School of Business. He is also a professor in the Paul H. Chook Department of Information Systems and Statistics. He spoke to Zicklin News about his message for our students, his top priorities as dean, his vision for the Zicklin School, and his childhood aspirations.
What do you most look forward to as dean?
I like seeing our students prepare to live their best lives, both professionally and personally, and then move into career paths that are fulfilling and challenging. Higher education is a ladder to opportunity, but it’s a collective effort. Students learn best when they bring their authentic selves to their education. Faculty are there, not just to disseminate knowledge, but to transform and inspire the students to build the skill sets they need to succeed in all the different business environments that are out there. What I really look forward to is seeing how our faculty, programs, and staff bring a Zicklin School student along from having a minimal knowledge of what makes a business or firm successful, to really understanding all the different elements that are required for great business outcomes.
What is your top priority for year one?
To gain an appreciation of what the Zicklin and Baruch College community are most proud of. What are we doing that enables us to have both a top academic reputation and incredible alumni loyalty? For decades, this institution has created successful graduates who want to stay involved and give back, both their time and their financial resources. I want to make sure we fully understand what creates those successful outcomes, so that we can build on them and do more of what we’re most proud of.
The second priority is finding areas where we’re not fulfilling our potential. More remains to be done here as far as online learning and education for graduate students, for example. Ultimately, what are the distinctive capabilities of the Zicklin School that we can take into the online space—to enhance our remote and distance learning activities?
What do you envision for Zicklin students?
During their time here at Zicklin, I’d like to see our students build up their capabilities in many different areas, so as they go out in their professional careers, they’re bringing their specialist skills to the table, but are also aware of their leadership responsibilities and all the other contributions that are necessary for a business to succeed. They need to be aware of how their piece of the business fits into the whole picture.
You’re an expert in information systems and the use of technology in education. Next month, you will be speaking to our benefactor, Larry Zicklin, on opportunities and risks for using AI in the classroom. What are your thoughts on digital learning?
There is tremendous potential. In the last 10 years, the technology for education has improved and many top business schools around the world that were reluctant to do online MBA programs have changed their minds. For a mature graduate student, someone in their mid-20s or older, we can demonstrate equal and even better learning outcomes in an online environment. The evidence is there. It’s not second best anymore—it can be first rate.
The traditional workplace has undergone a seismic shift since the pandemic. As a former management consultant, what do you think about the trend toward remote work?
If you’re a partner in a financial services, professional services, or law firm, you have your contacts and your professional reputation and you can probably operate successfully from anywhere in the world. But if you’re just starting out, sometimes having a chance to rub elbows with successful people in your industry is the way you learn and climb the ladder. I’d hate to see incorporating so much flexibility into our work schedules that we miss out on key chances to connect, mentor, and have intergenerational transfer of experience and knowledge. I certainly benefited from that myself as a consultant and a new professor.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I devour the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. I start feeling anxious if I can’t spend at least a half-hour every day on news, especially news related to the economy and business. I also like crossword puzzles.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I was born in Chicago and lived there until I was nine. I loved baseball and football, so I wanted to play for the Cubs or the Bears. I didn’t get to do that, but I did run cross country and track competitively in college and I still run to this day. This morning, I spent 40 wonderful minutes running along the High Line.
What else would you like us to know about you?
I’m thrilled to be back. New York is a wonderful environment for getting an education and launching a career.