Dr. Joseph B. Mazzola assumed his new position as dean of the Belk College of Business on July 1.
Dean Mazzola comes to UNC Charlotte from Georgetown University, where he was a member of the faculty of the McDonough School of Business andserved athree-year term as the executive dean of faculty and senior associate dean.
A highly-regarded scholar in the areas of operations management and operations research, Dr. Mazzola also will hold the title of Belk Distinguished Professor of Business in the Belk College. Heholds a Ph.D. in IndustrialAdministration fromCarnegie Mellon University, an M.S. in Operations Research from Carnegie Mellon andan M.A. in Mathematics from Wake Forest University. Dr. Mazzola earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics at SUNY at Stony Brook.
Prior to joining the faculty at Georgetown, Dr. Mazzola was a tenured member of the faculty at Duke University. He also taught at UNC Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University.
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Dr. Mazzola participated in a media Q & A in April,following his appointment as dean of the Belk College. Here are highlights:
What attracted you to the position of dean of the Belk College of Business?
Having lived in North Carolina before I came to Georgetown, I had known about UNC Charlotte for a long time. When the dean’s job was announced, it seemed like an interesting opportunity to pursue. As I went through the search process and learned more, I was very excited about the rate at which UNC Charlotte was growing and the
commitment to becoming a major research university. The Belk College is well established and positioned to move forward as well.
What sold you on the position?
Everything. From the vision and leadership of Chancellor Dubois and Provost Lorden, to the faculty and administrative staff, to the students. There is a sense of excitement on campus that was evident in nearly everyone I met during my visit. I also was impressed by the vibrant business community and the strength of the college’s advisory council.
What are the strengths of the Belk College of Business?
There are so many – it’s hard to single out just a few. We have a very strong faculty, a dedicated and hard-working staff, and a university and community that are on the move. It’s a pretty powerful combination.
Areas of challenge?
With rapid growth comes a proliferation of opportunities. Our challenge will be to prioritize the many opportunities we have, focus on the subset we do best and then move forward. I plan to employ a process that brings together all our constituencies – students, faculty, staff, alumni, the business community – to define, project, clarify and prioritize our options.
How do you see the role of the Belk College in the business community?
The college and the Charlotte business community are integrally linked. There are many strong relationships already in place, which facilitate the steady flow of information and understanding of our mutual needs and wants. The business community is a recipient of our talent, by way of the students we educate. We need to get input and feedback on how we educate and what we bring to the classroom. There are also many opportunities for research partnerships, which are another important component in serving the community and advancing the college’s mission.
You’re coming from Georgetown University, which has a nationally ranked
business school. How important is it that the Belk College be
ranked, and how do you plan to achieve that goal?
Obviously, there are pros and cons to the ranking “game,” and I use that word deliberately. The reality is that a business school cannot avoid rankings if it wants to play in the big leagues, because they do have an impact on attracting students and faculty. The question becomes, how can we advance our objectives and fulfill our mission and do it in a way that has a positive impact on rankings?
What are you looking forward to most?
The totality of the experience is so stimulating. To come to a place that is so enthusiastic, positive and open to change. To work at a school that is dedicated to the values of integrity, innovation, excellence, globalization, and diversity. To work with faculty, students, staff and the business community. To create and advance a new vision of the college so that we can move to the forefront of 21st century business education. I’m very much looking forward to getting started in July.