Meet the new leadership team at the Lindner College of Business

Senior leadership at the University of Cincinnati's Carl H. Lindner College of Business has been restructured this month with the establishment of a new eight-member team.

The team includes three new associate dean roles with highly focused, yet interdependent priorities as well as integral staff leadership positions, such as development and strategic operations:

• Dean: Marianne W. Lewis, Ph.D.
• Associate Dean – Academic Programs: Steve Slezak, Ph.D.
• Associate Dean – Faculty, Research & Lindner Culture: Suzanne Masterson, Ph.D.
• Associate Dean – Impact & Partnerships: Chuck Sox, Ph.D.
• Business Officer: Debora Myree.
• Executive Director – Lindner Inclusive Excellence: Nick Castro, J.D.
• Executive Director – Strategic Operations: Robin Brinkman.
• Senior Director – Lindner Development: Rachel Fausz.

"Revising the leadership structure to a flat, interdisciplinary and cohesive team is a vital step toward re-envisioning our college,” said Marianne Lewis, dean at the Lindner College of Business. “Each associate dean is responsible for a critical engine of the college and specific initiatives, yet all team members will be architects and bridge builders. While we all have diverse expertise and backgrounds, our common thread is the shared dedication to the Lindner community.”

Get to know the members of the dean's team:

Marianne W. Lewis, Ph.D., Dean and professor of management

• Researcher and teacher of organizational paradox and leadership
• Previous roles:
  • Dean, Cass Business School, City University of London
  • Associate dean and director, University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business
  • Former board memberships: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International Middle East and North Africa Advisory Council and Association of MBAs
• Ph.D., Management, University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics

Steve Slezak, Ph.D., Associate Dean – Academic Programs, director of Carl H. Lindner III Center for Insurance and Risk Management and associate professor of finance

• Researcher and teacher of corporate finance and risk management 
• Previous roles:
  • Director, insurance and risk management center and program, University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business 
  • Director, finance undergraduate program, University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business 
  • Department head, finance, University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business
• Ph.D., Economics, University of California San Diego
  

Suzanne Masterson, PhD, Associate Dean – Faculty, Research & Lindner Culture and professor of management

• Researcher and teacher of organizational behavior, fairness and workplace relationships
• Previous roles: 
  • Interim associate dean, faculty and research, University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business
  • Interim associate dean, graduate programs, University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business
    
  • Director, Ph.D. program, University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business
  • Editor-in-chief Journal of Organizational Behavior
• Ph.D., Organizational Behavior, University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business

Chuck Sox, Ph.D., Associate Dean – Impact & Partnerships and professor of operations management

• Researcher and teacher of business analytics and supply chain planning
• Previous roles: 
  
  • Director for industrial management and operations management program, University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business
  • University chair of manufacturing management, University of Alabama
  • Department head of information systems, statistics and management science,  University of Alabama
• Ph.D., Operations Research, Cornell University School of Operations Research and Information Engineering

Debora Myree, Business Officer

• All funds budgeting, public budget formulation, performance-based budgeting, funding and spending compliance
• Previous roles:
  
  • Director of business affairs, University of Cincinnati Libraries
  • Director of finance/human resource compliance, Clearwater Hospitality Group
  • Business unit leader, Avon Products
  • Served in the United States Army
• MBA, Ohio State University Max M. Fischer College of Business
  

Nick Castro, Executive Director – Lindner Inclusive Excellence

• Diversity, inclusion and engagement, leadership training and development
• Previous roles:
  • Assistant director of inclusion and involvement, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash
  • Coordinator of Hispanic/Latino affairs, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash
  • Coordinator of diversity and inclusion, National Collegiate Athletic Association
• JD, DePaul University College of Law, National Diversity Council Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)

Robin Brinkman, Executive Director – Strategic Operations

• Project and operations management, analytics and finance expertise
• Previous roles:
  • Management consultant, Ricondo & Associates
  • Associate director of business affairs, University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business
  • Financial analyst, Executive Jet Management
• BBA, Finance and Quantitative Analysis, University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business

Rachel Fausz, Senior Director – Lindner Development

• Fundraising and development
• Previous roles:
  • Director of development, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, University of Cincinnati Foundation
  • Associate director, corporate and foundation relations, University of Cincinnati Foundation
  • Manager of major gifts and leadership giving, United Way of Greater Cincinnati
• B.S., Mathematics, Centre College

Over their first 100 days, the leadership team will further elevate and sharpen the college’s vision, leveraging this base to align strategic plans and empowered teams in their respective areas. 

“We are energized to serve our Lindner community. Together, we will enable cultural and strategic change to fuel innovative business learning that is student focused, research inspired and community powered, ultimately making a positive impact on our world,” said Lewis.