Leadership

The leadership of the Lerner College is committed to offering distinctive, innovative educational opportunities related to the successful leadership of organizations operating in an environment of rapid change, global competition and advances in technology.


Oliver Yao, Dean

Oliver YaoOliver Yao was appointed dean of UD’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics on June 27, 2023. Yao will begin his tenure as dean on Aug. 1. He previously served as interim deputy provost for graduate education and associate dean for graduate programs of the College of Business at Lehigh University and was an esteemed business faculty member.

“I am honored and thrilled to be appointed as the dean of the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics,” Yao said. “The Lerner College has demonstrated excellence in both research and education with great achievements over the past decade. I look forward to working with President Assanis and Provost Carlson to continue this progress. Together with the exceptional faculty, dedicated staff, talented students and accomplished alumni, along with the support from the broader University of Delaware communities, we will nurture future business leaders who will take on the world’s most pressing challenges, empowered by a UD education that embraces and values a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.”

Yao joins UD Lerner following 20 years at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he served in numerous faculty and administrative appointments. Yao was the George N. Beckwith ’32 Professor in the Lehigh College of Business and, most recently, supported Lehigh as its interim deputy provost for graduate education since February 2020. In the latter role, Yao had oversight of all issues related to graduate programs and graduate students, charged also with developing strategies to grow graduate enrollment and enhance the graduate student experience. Simultaneously, beginning in July 2018, Yao served as the College of Business associate dean for graduate programs. In this role, he managed graduate recruitment, operations, student services, career services, marketing and communications, and curriculum development.

For three years, from 2015-2018, Yao also chaired Lehigh’s Department of Management, responsible for recruiting and retaining faculty; overseeing research and all undergraduate programs; establishing funding support for faculty workshops and research; and growing enrollment.

His research interests are focused on the interdisciplinary fields of information systems and operations management, and Yao’s research has been published in such journals as Management Science, Information Systems Research and MIS Quarterly. He also holds editorial appointments with Productions and Operations Management and Information Systems Research.

Yao earned his doctorate from the University of Maryland, received an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and completed his undergraduate studies at China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University.


The Lerner Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC)

This advisory group works at the bidding of the Dean to support his efforts to promote the effectiveness of the instructional programs of Lerner’s departments and centers. They discharge all University policies and the regulations adopted by the University, and function as liaisons between the Dean and the departments, centers and programs they lead.

DAC Members

  • Rick Andrews, senior associate dean for faculty
  • Adrienne Lucas, department chair of economics
  • Jack J. Baroudi, senior associate dean for academic programs
  • Ruma Beldona, senior assistant dean for graduate programs
  • Srikanth Beldona, department chair of hospitality and sport business management
  • Mike Evans, director of college computing operations
  • Julia Bayuk, associate dean of curriculum
  • Jay Coughenour, interim department chair of finance
  • Jennifer Hendrickson, director of communications and marketing
  • Hemant Kher, department chair of business administration
  • Sheryl Kline, deputy dean
  • Carolyn Levine, department chair of accounting & management information systems
  • Jill Pante, director of career services
  • Maria Poole, chief business officer
  • Kimberly Wilson, assistant dean for student services

The Lerner College benefits from the many contributions of the Dean’s Advisory Council which is focused on helping Lerner enhance its reputation as a top choice for business education among students and employers. Composed of senior executives and thought leaders from Delaware and beyond, the Dean’s Advisory Council provides guidance to the Dean and College leadership on matters of community and corporate engagement.


The New York City (NYC) Dean’s Advisory Council

The NYC Dean’s Advisory Council consists of alumni and friends from the business and higher education communities in the greater NYC area. These successful business owners and executives and education thought leaders advise and support the Dean regarding the College’s strategic plan. This group meets quarterly to advise the Dean regarding planning, marketing, fundraising and other strategic initiatives.

NYC Dean's Advisory Council Members

Thomas A. Nelson, Jr., (chair) senior vice president, Franklin Templeton Investments
 
Jeffery M. Alecci, managing director, UBS
 
Rudolf A. Bless, chief accounting officer, Bank of America
 
Ronald E. Bruehlman, senior advisor to the CEO, IQVIA
 
Jason J. Castelluccio, senior vice president and client portfolio manager, Nuveen Investments, Inc.
 
Lawrence A. Cunningham, professor of business law, George Washington University
 
Steven W. Dempsey, partner, Greyrock Capital Group
 
Kenneth S. Eagle, PAAMCO Prisma
 
David V. Elkins, executive vice president & chief financial officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
 
Donna M. Fontana, senior vice president, Fidelity Investments (retired)
 
Michael S. Geltzeiler, senior vice president and CFO, the NYSE and The ADT Corporation (retired)
 
Jeffrey L. Herbert, senior vice president and general counsel, Apple Bank for Savings
 
Michael L. Kalen, executive advisor, Aquiline Capital Partners LLC
 
Elan P. Keller, Esq., president, EndPoint Partners
 
Robert A. LaForte, co-head, senior managing director, INTL FCStone Inc.
 
Gary Michel, operating partner, Genstar Capital
 
James P. Moore, managing partner, Vine Alternative Investments, LLC
 
John W. Peruzzi, managing director, Group Head-Citi Credit Opportunities
 
Dennis Purcell, senior managing partner, Aisling Capital
 
Cameron (Cami) E. Rice, chief administrative officer of the institutional securities group, Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.
 
Roger I. Sachs, vice president – investor relations, Genpact
 
Andrew Schwartz, senior managing director, Guggenheim Partners
 
Joseph Slamm, partner, Hudson Sustainable Investments


Advisory Board

The Advisory Board provides strategic guidance to Lerner leadership to support efforts to make Lerner a prominent business school known for successful graduate and undergraduate programs, research visibility and innovative programming. Board members include distinguished public and private sector leaders with diverse interests and occupations. These influential individuals help maintain and enhance the quality of Lerner’s people and programs and support Lerner by donating time, expertise and money to the college.

Advisory Board Members
Robert F. Deutsch, (chair) director, JPMorgan Funds
 
Tracey A. Beberman, senior vice president, JPMorgan Chase
 
John (Jack) Beeson Jr., senior vice president, Wilmington Trust Company, M&T Bank Corporation
 
Ronald E. Bruehlman, executive vice president and chief financial officer, IQVIA
 
Craig Cleaver, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
John R. Collins, president and CEO, First State Advisors, LLC
 
Matthew Cohen, partner, Ernst & Young LLP
 
John Michael (Mike) Devenney, senior supply chain engineer, JMD Consultant Engineering
 
David V. Elkins, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb
 
Michael S. Geltzeiler, senior vice president and CFO, the NYSE and The ADT Corporation (retired)
 
E. Thomas (Thom) Harvey III, chairman, Harvey, Hanna & Associates, Inc.
 
Scott C. Hennessy, chairman, True Temper Sports (retired)
 
Thomas (Tom) W. Horne, managing director, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
 
Richard S. Hyman, tax managing partner, Deloitte Tax LLP
 
Elan P. Keller, president, EndPoint Partners
 
Donna J. Kinzel, chief financial officer, Ursuline Academy
 
Richard Lynch, managing partner, Block Realty and Management
 
Chris Mauthe, chief clients and markets officer, Deloitte Tax LLP
 
Mary Ellen Payne, SVP, marketing and sales, Verizon Communications (retired)
 
Natalie D. Ramsey, Esq., partner, Robinson+Cole
 
Edmond J. Sannini, senior advisor, McKinsey & Co.
 
Gregory J. Sawka, president and CEO, Bancroft Construction Co.
 
Jerry E. Sheridan, president and CEO, AmeriGas Propane, LP
 
Robert (Rob) L. Siegfried, Jr., president and CEO, The Siegfried Group LLP
 
Robert Wojciechowicz, executive vice president, Truist (retired)

Alumni Advisory Board

The Alumni Advisory Board is composed of a diverse group of Lerner College graduates from different geographic locations, class years, occupations and interests. In addition to providing guidance to the Lerner leadership, the Alumni Board promotes the advancement of the college by engaging other alumni and encouraging their support of Lerner’s programs and its students through engagement, service and giving. Alumni who are interested in participating in Lerner College programs or obtaining information about the Alumni Advisory Board are encouraged to email rcoffin@udel.edu.

Alumni Advisory Board Members
Alyson C. Filippone (board president), 2001, BS accounting; partner, Ernst & Young LLP
 
Mary J. Adler, 2010, BS marketing; VP of operations, Integrate Agency
 
Pierre Anderson, 2006, MBA; senior vice president and chief information officer, Artesian Resources Corporation
 
Joshua Berkow, 2005, BS business administration; director of operations, Delaware IT Industry Council
 
Audrey M. Bloemer, 2010, BS; director, Seer Interactive
 
Alan L. Brayman, 1973, BS business; senior vice president, Fulton Bank (retired)
 
William H. Cobb, 2015, BS finance and economics; manager, strategy and part of the PwC network
 
Debra A. Eskra, 1996, BSBA marketing and international business; vice president, Media Solutions Oracle; principal, CPG Analytics
 
David J. Etue, 1996, BSBA finance; principal, Cylent Knights, LLC
 
Ishmael Fontaine, 2002, BSBA; global risk and control officer, Citibank
 
Morgan C. Frees, 2014, BS finance and management; vice president, JP Morgan Private Bank
 
William E. Gamgort, Esq., 2004, honors BS marketing, minor MIS; partner, Young Conway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
 
Jamin Hudson, 2005, BS business administration; managing director, Hudson Management
 
Jenni Fleck Jones, 1995, BSBA business administration (marketing); marketing manager & college recruiter, Belfint, Lyons, & Shuman CPAs
 
Peter A. Kay, 1998, BS hotel, restaurant & institutional management; chief operating officer and president, Juice Press, LLC
 
Michele Lynch, 1983, BS accounting; managing director, Accenture (retired)
 
David W. Mendez, 2003, BSBA; president and CEO, WB Law Coffee
 
Anthony J. Polselli, 2004, honors BSBA business administration and BS accounting; partner, KPMG LLP
 
Clayton S. Rowe, 2011, BS finance and economics; vice president, business insights, TD Bank
 
Joseph G. Staab, Jr., 2008, BS accounting, minor international business; senior manager, Ernst & Young LLP
 
David Dennard Tinsley, 2015, BS marketing and management, 2016, MBA; vice president, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
 
William R. (Rob) Van Etten, 2003, BSBA finance and marketing; president and CEO, Brighton Cromwell, LLC

Lerner College Student Advisory Board

The Lerner College Student Advisory Board is a 10-12 member committee that strives to improve academic quality, professional experience, extracurricular enrichment and student satisfaction.

Lerner College Student Advisory Board Members
Allie Rebuck, (chairperson) senior double majoring in MIS and business analytics
 
Caleb Brukman, (director of operations) senior double majoring in finance and trust management
 
Grace Thompson, (director of marketing) junior majoring in marketing with a double minor in advertising and journalism
 
Brian Carbajal, junior double majoring in marketing and financial planning & wealth planning with a minor in French
 
Claire Sunshine, senior double majoring in operations management and marketing
 
Madelynn Murray, sophomore double majoring in operations management and marketing with a minor in entrepreneurship
 
Kaitlyn Puelo, sophomore majoring in finance
 
Katie Redfearn, sophomore double majoring in marketing and management
 
Olivia Parcells, junior double majoring in marketing and business management with an HR track and minoring in economics
 
Harrison Pagnini, sophomore majoring in finance
 
Will Fosbenner, junior majoring in sport management with a minor in advertising
 
Ebenezer Antwi, sophomore majoring in operations management
 
Anna Greene, freshman majoring in international business