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
UC students’ creation on world stage
October 8, 2025
At the Venice Biennale — one of the world’s most influential exhibitions for art and architecture — a three-meter-tall wood installation by University of Cincinnati professor Christoph Klemmt and his students is drawing international attention.
Meet the Lindner Full-time MBA Cohort of 2026
October 7, 2025
The Carl H. Lindner College of Business is proud to welcome its latest cohort of students to the full-time Master of Business Administration program. Students bring a wealth of knowledge from across disciplines in and outside of business as they pursue their advanced degrees.
How to determine if you’re at risk for adult ADHD
October 7, 2025
The University of Cincinnati's Stephen Rush was featured in a National Geographic article discussing current research into the causes and characteristics of ADHD, particularly when it is diagnosed in adults.
Charlie Puth mentors CCM student in BIC INKubator Music Contest
October 7, 2025
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of music (CCM) junior Ava Camaj, a Commercial Music Production major from Northville, Michigan, recently earned the opportunity of a lifetime: being mentored by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and producer Charlie Puth through the BIC INKubator Competition.
UC design student spins a dream co-op
October 7, 2025
Nicholas Namyar, a master’s of design student in UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, spent the summer in New York City on his dream co-op experience. He co-oped with Columbia Records, part of Sony Music Entertainment, working alongside the label’s video production team.
UC Blue Ash to host fall open house events
October 6, 2025
The University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College will host two open house events this fall that are free and open to prospective students and their guests.