After 140% Enrollment Boom, This B-School Gave Its Interim Dean The Top Job

Liad Wagman has been named permanent dean at the Stuart School of Business at Illinois Institute of Technology after what can only be described as a phenomenally successful interim deanship.

After taking over on a temporary basis in June 2022, Wagman helped to oversee a 140% surge in enrollment across all programs at the Stuart School.

“I’m truly honored and humbled to take on this role and continue the incredible work we’ve started here at Stuart,” says Wagman, who has served as a professor of economics at the school since 2009. “Our approach draws on a prestigious history of more than 125 years of seamlessly bridging business and technology at Illinois Tech, and provides our students with exceptional preparation for both the jobs of today, as well as the dynamically evolving challenges of tomorrow.”

WAGMAN IS A 2015 POETS&QUANTS 40-UNDER-40 HONOREE

Under Wagman’s interim deanship, the Stuart School has overhauled its curriculum, offering new programs in analytics, finance, economics, management, marketing, and more — including, notably, five new Tech+ majors, interdisciplinary degrees that blend core principles from fields such as business, engineering, psychology, information technology, policy, and cybersecurity. The curricular makeover has helped to position Stuart as a destination of choice for students at a time when demand for graduate business education is fluctuating nationwide.

“We are incredibly pleased with the sustained growth we’re seeing,” Wagman said following reports of the huge surge in enrollment from fall 2022 to fall 2023. “Our focus on blending business education with technological expertise has struck a chord with prospective students who see the tremendous value in what Stuart offers. We are committed to continuing this momentum by further enhancing our innovative academic programs.”

Wagman, a 2015 Best 40 Under 40 Poets&Quants honoree, joined Illinois Tech 14 years ago after completing his Ph.D. in economics at Duke University. He also earned a master’s in economics from Duke in 2006 and a master’s in computer science from Stanford in 2004. He attended undergrad at the University of North Carolina, where he graduated with a double degree in computer science and mathematics in 2002. He was born and raised in Haifa, Israel.

‘CONFIDENT WE CAN ACHIEVE EVEN GREATER HEIGHTS’

Wagman’s research has influenced regulatory discussions globally, framing digital policies in the United States and European Union. He has served as the senior economic and technology adviser to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, working under two White House administrations. He has received numerous honors for both research and teaching, including the Sigma Xi Excellence in University Research Award, the Bauer Family University Excellence in Teaching Award, and multiple best paper awards.

“Liad embodies the spirit of Illinois Tech and its vision of empowering students of all backgrounds and preparing them for the challenges of tomorrow,” Illinois Tech President Raj Echambadi says. “His passion for interdisciplinary education and focus on the integration of technology and business has set a new standard, not just for Stuart, but for business education nationwide.”

Wagman says the work of bringing the Stuart School into the ranks of elite business schools is just beginning. “At Stuart we all are dedicated to innovation in business education and delivering phenomenal programs and student outcomes, and I am excited to continue that mission, tradition, and prestigious history,” he says. “I am grateful to continue working with incredibly dedicated colleagues, students, alumni, and friends and community members at Stuart.

“The growth and transformation we’ve witnessed over the past year are just the beginning. With the support of the incredible Stuart community, I am confident we can achieve even greater heights.”

DON’T MISS THIS B-SCHOOL HAD A 140% SURGE IN ENROLLMENT THIS FALL