A New Dean At Tuck, A New ‘Refined Vision’ For The School

Tuck Dean Matt Slaughter

‘WE WOULDN’T BE A TOP 10 SCHOOL IF WE HADN’T INCREASED ENROLLMENT’

A fan of Winnie the Pooh, Slaughter says he identifies with Tigger, the exuberant and enthusiastic character of the A. A. Milne books rather than the gloomy Eeyore or the over anxious Piglet. Colleagues agree. In his first five months in the job as dean, Slaughter has impressed them as an energetic, visionary, fresh, and inclusive leader. “Matt has done a fantastic job of charting a new course, establishing his credibility as a leader, and keeping the school on track,” enthuses Paul Argenti, a Tuck veteran professor.

Slaughter says he does not foresee a boost in Tuck’s MBA enrollment, believing that the current size of the school is ideal. Under Danos, who he often describes as a mentor, Tuck increased its annual intake of MBA students from 180 to 286. “We wouldn’t be a top 10 school if we hadn’t increased the number of students,” believes Slaughter. “We needed to have an adequate mass of students for recruiters to come to Tuck.”

Nor does Slaughter necessarily view technology as disruptive to the school’s MBA experience. “Transmitting knowledge is becoming commoditized,” he believes. “Those schools (offering only online degrees) will be challenged. Our community-based learning is different to commoditization. A model that allows dots of knowledge to be shared in a classroom raises the value of high-quality, community-based learning. The value of that goes up a lot.”

‘OUR FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS ARE COMMITTED TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD’

Asked to describe Tuck to someone who knows nothing about the school or its MBA program, Slaughter pauses. “We’re a place for people who want to be part of a community that aspires to improve the lot of the world,” he says firmly. “Our faculty, staff and students are committed to making a better world. And the way we do it is by creating a community where you feel a strong sense of belonging. We empower students and instruct them to pursue their dreams. Our goal is to prepare wise leaders to better the world.

“Business builds the material opportunity to allow others to flourish,” adds Slaughter, as if playing his role of an economist in a class. “If you want to be part of creating that, Tuck is a great place to do it.”

DON’T MISS: DEAN OF THE YEAR: THE CAJUN FROM NEW ORLEANS or MEET TUCK’S CLASS OF 2017