Dean’s Letter

Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou

At last! We made it through an entire year of living in the “new normal” post-pandemic world. Classrooms are full, airplanes are crowded, and renewed enthusiasm abounds on the Tepper campus. Our school is brimming with new initiatives, and once again I am convinced there has never been a better time to be here, in the heart of Carnegie Mellon University.

The business world awoke from the pandemic with an explosion of technological advances utilizing artificial intelligence. Like the hype that once surrounded “big data,” AI is on everyone’s mind, thus evoking both excitement and consternation. Fortunately, the Tepper School was founded on the principles of management science, so leveraging the latest technology to solve complex business challenges is the cornerstone of our expertise.

I have always asserted that our students should be data-informed vs. data-driven, as I believe humanity is paramount to making smart decisions. Furthermore, by being data-informed and human-driven, we are far more likely to maximize the immense capabilities of AI for the betterment of the world. In this issue, we are excited to share what other Tepper thought leaders think as they discuss the ethics, productivity, advantages, and limitations of AI.

This fall, we hired six tenure-track faculty, one teaching professor, four visiting faculty, and two Distinguished Service professors to support the Tepper School’s continuous growth. In fall 2024, we will launch a specialized master’s degree, the Master of Science in Management. This new 10-month program is ideally suited for recent college graduates with ambitious career aspirations in business.

As business education evolves, so must our school. Accordingly, a team of dedicated faculty and staff are diligently working on the strategic framework and articulation of the Tepper School’s 2025 Strategic Plan. Throughout this academic year, the team is incorporating stakeholder input and ensuring we are confidently and aggressively moving forward into what we refer to as The Intelligent Future.℠

In closing, I thank you for all you do on behalf of our school. I wish you happiness and good fortune in the new year ahead.

With gratitude,

Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou 
Dean, Tepper School of Business
Richard P. Simmons Professor of Finance