Madan Annavarjula named dean of Charlton College of Business

Indian American professor Madan Annavarjula will become the next Dean of the Charlton College of Business at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on Sep 1.

“In our ongoing commitment to excellence, I am pleased to add another world-class Dean to the campus leadership,” said UMass Dartmouth Provost Ramprasad Balasubramanian, announcing his appointment.

“Dr. Madan Annavarjula brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and vision to this role, making him an exceptional choice to guide our Charlton College of Business into the future,” he said.

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“Dr. Annavarjula is passionate about fostering entrepreneurship, integrating emerging technologies into the curriculum, expanding global partnerships, and building cutting-edge interdisciplinary programs. We are confident that under Madan’s leadership, the Charlton College of Business will continue to thrive and provide our students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the ever-changing professional world of business.”

“UMass Dartmouth is a treasure trove of opportunities in terms of interdisciplinary programs, cutting edge research and innovative curriculum. Charlton College is positioned very well to leverage these opportunities to benefit our students and community. I am excited at the opportunity to lead the Charlton College of Business and to participate in fostering experiential learning opportunities, growing market driven academic programs and build excellent outcomes for our students,” said Annavarjula.

Annavarjula most recently served as the Dean of the College of Business and Professor of International Business at Bryant University. At Bryant, he was responsible for strategic planning, curriculum development, faculty management, and day-to-day administration of the College of Business.

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Annavarjula worked with faculty and alumni to launch several undergraduate and graduate programs including Data Science, Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, Leadership and Innovation and Project Management.

Annavarjula brings a wealth of knowledge and years of experience with the AACSB accreditation process, according to a university press release .

He successfully led Bryant to national and international prominence, including helping the International Business major to rank #17 in the US and be among the top programs in the US in 2023, according to US News and World Report.

In the fall of 2018, he led a team of dedicated faculty to launch a new graduate-level online MBA program, currently ranked in the top 15% of the nation according to the 2024 US News and World Report.

Madan Annavarjula was the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award at Bryant in 2010, the Outstanding Service Award in 2011, the Bryant Alumni Award for Excellence in 2013, and the Outstanding International Educator of the Year Award presented by North American Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE) in 2018.

His current research interests include technology strategies of multinational corporations and pedagogical issues in International Business education. Annavarjula’s research has been published in several scholarly journals, and he has presented his work at national and international conferences.

Annavarjula earned his PhD in International Business at the Fox School of Business, Temple University.