Newsroom

The Paul Merage School of Business at UCI Irvine proudly announces the appointment of Professor Violina Rindova as the Dean’s Leadership Council Chair and the new Associate Dean Research and Doctoral Programs. Professor Rindova, a distinguished scholar in the field of strategic innovation, brings a wealth of expertise and a visionary perspective to her leadership role. Her appointment is effective as of the first week of July, 2023.

With a significant track record in academia, Professor Rindova is recognized for her groundbreaking research on how firms create value, intangible assets, and new market opportunities through unconventional strategies across various industries. Her work has been published in management journals and has garnered significant attention from leading business media outlets, including the Economist, the New York Times, and the Washington Post.

As the newly appointed Associate Dean Research and Doctoral Programs, Professor Rindova will play a pivotal role in expanding the research agenda and fostering excellence in doctoral education at the Merage School. Her vision for the role emphasizes the integration of cutting-edge research with practical implications, empowering faculty and students to make meaningful contributions to the business world.

"I am thrilled to join the Merage School as the Associate Dean Research and Doctoral Programs," said Professor Rindova. "I believe that a vibrant research environment is one of the most important attributes of a successful business school and university. A vibrant research environment enables faculty to fulfill the core mission of the university to create and disseminate new knowledge; it supports the recruitment and retention of talent; it contributes to faculty job satisfaction and well-being; and it ultimately provides the foundation of the impact that faculty have on students, the business community, and society. I look forward to working closely with faculty, students, and external partners to advance knowledge, fuel innovation, and create a lasting impact in the field of business."

Dean Ian Williamson expressed his enthusiasm for Professor Rindova's appointment, stating, "We are delighted to welcome Professor Rindova to the Merage School and also to serve as the Dean’s Leadership Council Chair. Her exceptional scholarly accomplishments, combined with her leadership experience, make her an invaluable asset to our institution. I am confident that her strategic vision and dedication to research excellence will elevate our research programs and strengthen our reputation as a leading business school."

Professor Rindova has previously held the Zlotnik Family Chair in Entrepreneurship and the Herb Kelleher Chair in Entrepreneurship, Growth and Renewal at the McCombs School of Business at University of Texas, as well as the Captain Henry W. Simonsen Chair in Strategic Entrepreneurship at the Marshall School of Business at USC. She has been recognized with numerous grants and awards, including the "Thought Leadership" award from the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management, the award for outstanding scholarly contribution from Strategic Organization, and the Distinguished Scholar Award from the Journal of Management Inquiry and the Western Academy of Management. She has held leadership positions in the Academy of Management and Strategic Management Society. She has also served as an Associate Editor at the Academy of Management Review, and is currently a Senior Editor at Strategy Science.