Villanova Names New Business School Dean

Patrick G. Maggitti becomes the new dean of Villanova’s business school

After a nationwide search, Villanova University yesterday (May 15) named a former entrepreneur and business school professor the new dean of its business school. The appointment of Patrick G. Maggitti, who teaches strategic management and entrepreneurship, is effective June 1, 2012.

“Dr. Patrick Maggitti is the ideal choice for this key leadership role at Villanova University,” said university President Rev. Peter M. Donohue in a statement. “Dr. Maggitti brings a wealth of experience to his new position as Dean of the Villanova School of Business, including extraordinary vision and wide-ranging knowledge from his experience in both the academic and corporate worlds. He also has a deep commitment to our Augustinian mission and the values of service and community.”

“I am honored to be named Dean of the Business School at this vibrant time in Villanova’s history,” said Maggitti in a statement. “I consider myself fortunate to serve among such a strong, creative and talented group of faculty, staff, students and alumni, and I am excited to have this opportunity to work together to build and achieve even greater success for our institution.”

As Dean of Villanova University’s School of Business, Maggitti will serve as chief administrator of the school and its 2,500 students (undergraduate and graduate), 128 faculty, 50 staff members and an alumni body of nearly 30,000. The university said he will oversee an annual budget of more than $25 million and lead VSB’s long-term strategic and academic planning, curricular initiatives, faculty research support, student services, fundraising, external relations and alumni services. Maggitti currently serves as the director of the school’s Center for Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship as well as an associate professor.

The university said that Maggitti has authored numerous publications for top management journals such as the Academy of Management Journal, Research Policy and the Journal of Management Studies. In 2011, he received the Villanova University “Outstanding Teaching Award” for faculty with fewer than seven years of service and, in 2004, was the recipient of the “Allen J. Krowe Award for Excellence in Teaching” from the R.H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. His research interests focus on dynamic processes, including strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship, decision-making, search behavior, and market and non-market based competition.

Prior to academia, Maggitti spent nearly 15 years in the steel and mining industries, where he founded two successful companies and held a variety of roles, including chief executive officer, director of national sales and board member. He has also consulted with a variety of international organizations on numerous facets of strategy and entrepreneurial thinking. Maggitti is dedicated to community service and currently is the Radnor Township Board of Commissioners’ appointee on the Radnor Memorial Library Board of Trustees.

Maggitti received his PhD in strategic management from the University of Maryland, College Park; an MBA with high honors from the Johns Hopkins University; and a BS in chemistry from Saint Joseph’s University.

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