Beedie School of Business welcomes new Dean Ali Dastmalchian

Professor Ali Dastmalchian, Dean of the Beedie School of Business.

The Beedie School of Business is delighted to welcome its new dean, Professor Ali Dastmalchian. While Monday, January 4 kicks off his first week in a new role, Beedie is most certainly in wise and experienced hands. Professor Dastmalchian served as dean at the Gustavson School of Business, at the University of Victoria, for 10 years.

During his tenure there, he oversaw the naming of both the School and its Graduate programs, launched its PhD and Master’s in Global Business programs, and helped Gustavson achieve both EQUIS and AACSB accreditation.

Professor Dastmalchian succeeds professor Blaize Horner Reich, who completes her term in the role.

“I’m delighted to welcome Dr. Dastmalchian to the Beedie School of Business, and look forward to working with him to continue our success,” said professor Reich. “He joins a growing, dynamic, and engaged business school – one that plays an important leadership role in many important sectors, such as sustainability, globalization, technology, and entrepreneurship.”

SFU President Andrew Petter whole-heartedly concurs: “Dr. Dastmalchian has an outstanding record of academic leadership. His devotion to teaching and research, combined with his commitment to collaboration and engagement, fit perfectly with SFU’s vision to be Canada’s Engaged University.”

Prior to joining the University of Victoria, professor Dastmalchian had held several academic leadership positions, including dean of the Faculty of Management at the University of Lethbridge from 1997 to 2002.

An award-winning teacher, facilitator, and researcher, professor Dastmalchian has held faculty positions and visiting appointments at universities across Europe, North America, and Asia, and taught in undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs across the globe.

He has served as Chair of the Canadian Federation of Business School Deans, and is currently President and Chair of the Board of Global Leadership and Organizational Behaviour Effectiveness (GLOBE) Research and Education Foundation, a world-renowned research project on culture and leadership conducted in 62 countries.

”I’m very excited about the opportunity to join the Beedie School of Business and Simon Fraser University,” says professor Dastmalchian. “I’ve long admired the School’s commitment to innovation, its high impact research and educational programs, and its local and global community engagement. I am honoured to have a role in realizing the School’s vision.”

Professor Dastmalchian joins the Beedie School of Business at a time when it has grown both its undergraduate and graduate program portfolio.

Within the last year the School has launched the Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology Commercialization, the Executive MBA in Northwestern BC, and an interdisciplinary undergraduate Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.