Announcement of the appointment of dean, Schulich School of Business

The following is a message to the community from York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton.

Dear colleagues,

I am delighted to inform colleagues in the Schulich School of Business (SSB) and across the York University community that the search for the next dean of the Schulich School of Business has reached a successful conclusion. The search committee, chaired by Provost Lisa Philipps and comprised of members of SSB (full-time and contract faculty, staff, students and alumni) and myself, undertook an extensive national and international search, which attracted outstanding candidates for this key position in our University. On October 12, 2021, the Board of Governors concurred with my recommendation that Dr. Detlev Zwick be appointed to the position of dean, effective July 1, 2021, for a five-year term.

As members of the York community know, Professor Zwick has served with great distinction as interim dean of the Schulich School of Business since July 1, 2020. Prior to that appointment, he had served as the school’s associate dean academic with broad responsibilities for teaching and learning innovation and recognition, program development, academic policy, student services and international relations; and earlier as director of the school’s BBA/iBBA program. He had also represented the school on Senate and the Senate Executive Committee, as well as serving on the Joint Committee on Affirmative Action. He has been a member of the full-time faculty in Schulich’s Marketing program since 2002 and is also a member of the Graduate Program in Communication and Culture.

Professor Zwick holds a PhD in marketing from the University of Rhode Island, and master’s degrees from the University of Memphis and the University of Cologne/DSHS. His research encompasses areas of marketing and responsible business, including consumer behaviour, database marketing, consumer surveillance, and marketing and sustainability. His work has been published widely in marketing, communication, media culture and sociology venues, and his expertise is frequently called upon by the media. He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses on digital marketing, leadership skills, and the philosophy of knowledge in the social sciences.

As interim dean, Professor Zwick has been leading the school’s development at the forefront of technological innovation in management education. He has been working with colleagues within and beyond the school to advance its global brand and its reputation for excellence in research, teaching and delivery of an exceptional student experience. These initiatives have included the launch of a new Research Excellence Fellowship program and further development of experiential learning. He has engaged faculty, staff, students and alumni, as well as external stakeholders, in articulating directions and priorities for the school going forward. His commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is evident in initiatives to address systemic barriers for students, including collaboration with other leading Ontario business schools to provide enhanced mentorship and support; diversification of the curriculum; and the formation of the school’s DEI Working Group to consultatively develop recommendations to address Black and Indigenous racism.

I look forward to continuing to work closely in the coming years with Professor Zwick and his colleagues in the Schulich School of Business at this important time in the school’s evolution, as it builds on its significant successes and outstanding reputation to lead in innovation and transformation in business education in Canada and internationally.

Finally, I want to thank the members of the search committee for their contributions to this crucial process.

Sincerely,

Rhonda L. Lenton
President and Vice-Chancellor