A Message From The Dean

Investing in Excellence

On May 18, 2007, upon the recommendation of president Scrimshaw, the Simmons College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to invest an additional $4.6 million in the School of Management. The investment will enable us to complete the next phase of building a thriving School of Management. Specifically the investment, to be made over three years, will enable the School to:

  • accelerate the execution of our strategy to enhance our competitive position regionally and as a niche player, focused on women's leadership, nationally and internationally;
  • broaden and deepen our faculty by hiring ten additional faculty with expertise in marketing, technology and operations management, finance, gender and leadership, and business ethics and corporate social responsibility what I call "principled leadership";
  • optimize our success in securing AACSB accreditation in 2009 by ensuring continuous improvement in research and publishing, assessment of learning outcomes, and building stronger linkages within the business community;
  • enhance our contribution to strengthening the brand, reputation, and fiscal health of Simmons College as a whole.


The investment will result in a permanent adjustment of $2.2 million in the School's operating budget, an augmentation of 40%. The plan projects a growth of 60% in total student credit hours by 2016. Significant growth in enrollments will result from earning AACSB accreditation - an imprimatur of excellence, moving to the new "green" building with state-of-the-art teaching facilities (and parking!), increased offerings made possible by the expansion of our faculty, and expanded marketing. We project that the investment will be repaid by 2015.

President Scrimshaw's and the Board's decision to invest additional resources in the School of Management reflects their commitment to our vision of a thriving SOM - a school of management that is recognized widely as a leading authority on women, leadership, and management, and as a unique provider of a quality management education designed specifically for women at all phases of their careers. Their confidence is based on the innovations and successes we have achieved together in recent years and the strong commitment that our School garners from our students, faculty, staff, and alumnae.