The Exchange: Dean Appreciation June 2025

A Grateful Thank You to Jeff Guan

As we prepare to welcome new leadership in July, the College of Business community would be remiss if we didn’t pause to thank Dr. Jeff Guan for his incredible service as Interim Dean over the past three years.

Jeff stepped into the role with grace, grit and a dry sense of humor that reminded us—frequently—that “humans are not telepathic.” His dedication to clear communication, strategic thinking and an openness to innovation helped move the college forward during a time of transformation. He’s been a steady steward, an advocate for progress and occasionally, a purveyor of dad jokes that left us wondering if humor might be a hidden pillar of business education.

While we can’t list everything Jeff accomplished (and he’d probably roll his eyes if we tried), here are just a few things we’re proud to have achieved under his leadership:

• Elevated student success: Increased undergraduate enrollment by 13.6%, launched retention-focused programs like Cardinal Flight and CAPS and boosted freshman fall-to-spring retention to 96.7%
• Strengthened academic innovation: Added high-impact programs in marketing, HR, real estate, AI and hospitality
• Championed AI: Led the charge on AI as both an academic initiative and a strategic focus, ensuring the college leads the region in AI transformation
• Built research momentum: Supported elite publications, expanded research conferences and secured top placements for PhD grads
• Enhanced community and transparency: Led bylaw revisions, modernized governance and modeled open, consistent communication

Jeff’s leadership has always been about more than metrics. It’s been about people—faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners—and his belief in our collective potential. Even as he leaned into AI, he never lost sight of the very human core of our mission: to educate, to collaborate and to lead with integrity.

Thank you, Jeff, for your service, your vision and your commitment to our college.