UC names new dean for Carl H. Lindner College of Business
Marianne Lewis will be first woman to lead the University of Cincinnati's nationally ranked business college
By Michele Ralston
Kristi A. Nelson, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Cincinnati, today announced the appointment of Marianne W. Lewis as dean of the Carl H. Lindner College of Business. Lewis will be the first woman to lead the renowned business college.
Lewis, who will begin her new role July 1, 2019, pending approval by the UC Board of Trustees, currently serves as dean and professor of management at Cass Business School, part of City, University of London — a top-50 global business school. She is an internationally renowned thought leader in the fields of leadership and organizational paradoxes as they relate to organizational change, governance and innovation. Prior to her role in the United Kingdom, Lewis spent over a decade at UC.
“We are delighted to welcome Marianne back home to the University of Cincinnati and the Carl H. Lindner College of Business,” says Nelson. “She is a transformational and collaborative leader whose passion and innovative spirit will position the college for decades of high-impact research, teaching and experiential learning. I am confident Marianne’s energizing strategic vision will lead us into the new and Next.”
A rendering of the new Lindner College of Business building.
The university launched a new strategic direction, Next Lives Here, in Feb. 2018 to propel the university through the next decade and lead urban public universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Lewis will spearhead development of the business college’s strategy in support of UC’s Next Lives Here vision.
Lewis joined UC and the Lindner College of Business in 1997 as an assistant professor of management. From 2002 to 2006 she served as associate dean for innovation and program development. Lewis became director of Kolodzik Business Scholars in 2007, and in 2009 she was named associate dean for undergraduate programs. She held both positions until 2014, when she joined Cardiff University as a UK Fulbright scholar. In 2015, Lewis was named dean and professor of management for Cass Business School.
“This is a true homecoming and honor to be the next leader of the Carl H. Lindner College of Business,” says Lewis. “As part of an urban university, the college has a tremendous responsibility to educate our future business leaders in ways that advance the entire Cincinnati region and our global society. I look forward to working closely with faculty and staff, Cincinnati’s business community and our alumni to extend the global reach of Lindner.”
Lewis has earned numerous teaching and research awards throughout her academic career. She has authored two books, and her work appears in the leading management journals, including the Harvard Business Review, Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science, and Journal of Operations Management. Her paper, “Exploring paradox: Toward a more comprehensive guide” received the Academy of Management Review Best Paper Award in 2000 and is among the most cited in the field.
Lewis earned her undergraduate degree in business administration from Tusculum College, her MBA from Indiana University and PhD from the University of Kentucky.
She joins UC as the business college’s new 225,000-square-foot state-of-the-art building readies to open this fall of 2019. The $120 million project is one of the most ambitious construction projects undertaken by the university and will provide a collaborative space for education, research and innovation to thrive among students, faculty and the Greater Cincinnati business community.
About the Carl H. Lindner College of Business
For more than 110 years, the Carl H. Lindner College of Business has been committed to developing the next generation of business leaders. Through personalized career coaching and experiential learning, Lindner students graduate with a competitive advantage in the workforce and are strongly positioned to address a multitude of today’s global business challenges. The college has not only served as a catalyst for innovation and cutting-edge research, but its programs have also earned national acclaim in several academic areas.
Related Stories
Five students earn 1819 Innovation Awards at DAAPworks 2026
May 1, 2026
DAAPworks 2026 honored five senior projects for uniquely blending arts with innovation, from food spoilage detectors for those with smell disorders to toys teaching children how to 3D print.
Why is it so difficult to own a restaurant in Cincinnati?
May 1, 2026
WLWT turned to UC Lindner College of Business economics professor David Brasington for a look into the factors that make restaurant ownership so difficult in today's market.
UC among national top 100 universities for patents
May 1, 2026
The University of Cincinnati earned 61st place among U.S. universities for its number of patents produced in 2025, having risen 19 places from the National Academy of Inventors’ prior list.
Biggest crowd for the biggest graduation
May 1, 2026
The University of Cincinnati celebrates a record Spring 2026 commencement, honoring 7,800+ graduates with ceremonies at Fifth Third Arena and Nippert Stadium.
BearcatGPT: UC becomes first Ohio university to offer AI platform
April 30, 2026
Local news media highlight UC's private AI platform, BearcatGPT, that offers a suite of tools for students, faculty and staff.
The case for property taxes
April 30, 2026
In breaking down the pros and cons of property taxes, Forbes cited tax research led by UC Lindner College of Business economics professor David Brasington.