Leadership
Oliver Yao, Dean
Oliver 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
- Julia Bayuk, associate dean for undergraduate programs
- Ruma Beldona, senior assistant dean for graduate programs
- Tim DeSchriver , department chair of hospitality and sport business management
- Mike Evans, director of college computing operations
- Andrea Everard, associate dean for graduate programs
- Laura Field, 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
- Adrienne Lucas, department chair of economics
- Jill Pante, director of career services
- Maria Poole, senior business officer
- Kimberly Wilson, senior 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
Rudolf A. Bless, ‘82, chief accounting officer, Bank of America
Chris Brennan, ‘03, co-head, commodities trading, Jane Street
Ronald E. Bruehlman, ‘82, senior vice president & chief financial officer, IQVIQ Holdings
Jason J. Castelluccio, ‘00, senior vice president & client portfolio manager, Nuveen Investments, Inc.
Steven W. Dempsey, ‘90, partner, Greyrock Capital Group
Kenneth Eagle, ‘00, chief financial officer, Centre Lane Partners
Donna M. Fontana, ‘85, senior vice president, sales (retired), Fidelity Investments
Michael S. Geltzeiler, ‘80, senior vice president and CFO (retired), NYSE and The ADT Corporation
Jeffrey L. Herbert, ‘01, senior executive vice president & general counsel, Apple Bank
Michael L. Kalen, ‘82, CEO, Covr Financial Technologies
Elan P. Keller, Esq., ‘94, president, EndPoint Partners
Robert A. LaForte ‘99, co-head, senior managing director, INTL FCStone Inc.
Gary Michel, ‘86, operating partner, Genstar Capital
James P. Moore ‘88, managing partner, Vine Alternative Investments, LLC
John W. Peruzzi, ‘84, managing director, Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Credit
Dennis Purcell, ‘77, founder (retired), Aisling Capital LLC
Cameron (Cami) E. Rice, ‘96, chief administrative officer, institutional securities group, Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.
Roger I. Sachs, ‘88, vice president, investor relations, Genpact
Andrew Schwartz, ‘95, senior managing director, Guggenheim Partners
Joseph Slamm, III, ‘84, partner, Hudson Clean Energy
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
John (Jack) Beeson Jr., ‘98, senior vice president, Wilmington Trust Company, M&T Bank Corporation
Ronald E. Bruehlman, ’82, senior vice president & chief financial officer, IQVIA Holdings
Craig R. Cleaver, ‘98, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Matthew C. Cohen, ’89, assurance partner, east region professional practice director, Ernst & Young LLP
John R. Collins, ‘80, president & CEO, First State Advisor, LLC
Robert F. Deutsch, ‘80, director, JPMorgan Funds; chair, JPM Funds EFT committee treasurer; treasurer & trustee, Just Capital Foundation; advisor, Zoe Financial
John Michael (Mike) Devenney, ‘70, industrial & systems engineer (retired), senior supply chain logistics consultant
David V. Elkins, ‘91, executive vice president & chief financial officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb
Jeffrey Geller, ‘95, senior vice president, Global Total Rewards and HR Operations Merck & Co., Inc.
E. Thomas (Thom) Harvey, III ‘75, chairman, Harvey, Hanna & Assoc., Inc.
Scott C. Hennessy, ‘80, chairman (retired), True Temper Sports
Thomas (Tom) W. Horne, ‘88, managing director, JPMorganChase & Co.
Richard S. Hyman, ‘92, national service line leader – international tax and transfer pricing, Deloitte Tax LLP
Elan P. Keller, Esq., ‘94, president, EndPoint Partners
Donna J. Kinzel, ‘96, chief financial officer, business officer, Ursuline Academy; chief financial officer (retired), Pepco Holdings, Inc.
Richard Lynch, ‘09, managing partner, Block Realty and Management
Chris Mauthe, ‘91, chief clients and market officer, Deloitte Tax LLP
Mary Ellen Payne, ‘80, senior vice president, marketing & sales (retired), Verizon Communications
Natalie D. Ramsey, Esq., ‘81, partner, Robinson & Cole, LLP
Edmond Sannini,‘78, senior advisor, McKinsey & Co.
Gregory J. Sawka, ‘94, president & CEO, Bancroft Construction Co.
Jerry E. Sheridan, ‘86, president & CEO, AmeriGas Propane, LP
Robert (Rob) L. Siegfried, Jr,. ‘81, president & CEO, The Siegfried Group LLP
Robert Wojciechowicz, ‘90, banking executive (retired), Frontstream Trust
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
Audrey M. Bloemer, ‘10, BS finance & marketing; associate vice president, client solutions, Kepler Group
William H. Cobb, ‘15, BS finance & economics; manager, strategy and part of the PwC Network
Deb Eskra, ‘96, BSBA marketing/intl. business; senior director, insights & solutions, Enterra Solutions
Morgan C. Frees, ‘14, BS finance & management; vice president, banker, JPMorgan Private Bank
Alyson C. Filippone, C.P.A., ‘01 BS accounting; assurance partner, assurance services, Ernst & Young LLP
William E. Gamgort, Esq., ‘04, BS marketing, MIS; attorney, commercial lending & environmental, Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor, LLP
Jessica Gonzalez, ‘09, BS accounting; director, assurance, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
Jamin Hudson, ‘05, BS business administration; managing director, Hudson Management
Jenni Fleck Jones, ‘95, BS business administration (marketing); marketing & college recruiter, Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, CPAs
Peter A. Kay, ‘98, BS hotel, restaurant and institutional management; chief operating officer & president, Juice Press, LLC
Robert Krukowski, ‘03, BS finance; head of value, access and pricing, SpringWorks Therapeutics
Michele Lynch, ‘82, BS accounting; managing director (retired), Accenture
Matt McCarthy, principal, Image Lighting Distribution LLC
David W. Mendez ‘03, BS business administration; CEO, WB Law Coffee
Anthony J. Polselli, C.P.A., ‘04, BS business administration & accounting; audit partner, KPMG LLP
Clayton S. Rowe, ‘11, BS finance and economics; vice president, business insights specialist, TD Bank
Joseph G. Staab, Jr., ‘08, BS accounting, intl. business; managing director, Ernst & Young LLP
David Dennard Tinsley, ‘16, MBA; vice president, marketing manager, JPMorganChase & Co.
William R. (Rob) Van Etten, Jr., ‘03, BS business administration, finance & marketing; president & 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
Grace Thompson (director of marketing), senior, marketing major, journalism minor, Boston, MA.
Katie Redfearn (director of operations), junior, finance and marketing major, international business minor, Blackwood, NJ.
Madelynn Murray, sophomore, operations management and marketing major, entrepreneurship minor, Greenlawn, NY.
Grace Flammia, freshman, economics (B.A.) major, Long Island, NY.
Anna Greene, sophomore, international business and marketing major, Terryville, CT.
Olga Mishenina, junior, MIS major, operations management concentration, business analytics minor, Krasnodar, Russia.
Harrison Pagnini, junior, finance major, Natick, MA.
Ebenezer Antwi, junior, operations management major, Smyrna, DE.
Kaitlyn Puleo, junior, accounting major, history minor, West Hartford, CT.
Will Fosbenner, senior, sports management major, advertising minor, West Chester, PA.
Olivia Parcells, senior, marketing and management major, economics minor, Easton, CT.
Julia Birchfield, junior, marketing, global enterprise management and business analytics major, Norrisville, MD.
Braden Macfie, sophomore, economics major, business administration minor, Hillsdale, NJ.
Jeevitha Deb, sophomore, economics major, leadership minor, Surat, India.
Hallie Ross, freshman, hospitality and event experience major, entrepreneurship minor, Newark, DE.