It is a privilege to serve as Interim Dean of the D'Amore-McKim School of Business—my third time in this role, and one I don't take lightly. Higher education is changing quickly, and we continue to lead its innovation. Our commitment to our students, our faculty and staff, and the community we serve has never wavered.
D'Amore-McKim is at its best when it's willing to adapt. That entrepreneurial spirit—the willingness to do things differently, to meet the moment rather than wait it out—has carried this school through past challenges, and it's what will carry us forward now. Standing still simply isn't an option.
That spirit shows up in how our students learn. D'Amore-McKim has never believed that a business education belongs only in a classroom, so we build it around real experience—in the field, alongside real partners, from day one. It shows up in how we prepare for the future, too. The tools our students will use in their careers are changing fast, including how AI is reshaping the work of business itself. We're determined to graduate students ready to lead through that change, not be surprised by it. It shows up in our reach, too: our students and faculty don't just study business; they practice it across campuses, industries, and borders, as part of a university built for exactly that kind of scale.
Our priority is to build on this foundation for our students, our faculty's research, and our partnerships with industry and alumni, while remaining closely aligned with Northeastern's broader mission. We are an integral part of the university's network of 13 campuses across three countries. Our students have the opportunity to think and collaborate across disciplines and geographic locations as they prepare to engage with the world and solve global problems.
I'm grateful for the partnership of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends as we navigate this next chapter, and I'm optimistic about what we'll accomplish together, once again.
Sincerely,
Emery A. Trahan, PhD, CPA, CFA
Interim Dean
