Emory University recently announced Erika H. James as the new dean of Goizueta Business School, making her the first African American female to hold that position in the school’s history.
James, who earned her Ph.D. in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan, is a former associate dean for executive education at the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia, and a former consultant to several Fortune 500 companies, according to Emory.
“Erika James has all of the qualities that we want for a leader at Goizueta,” Provost Claire Sterk said in the school’s announcement. “She brings a background of impressive scholarship and strong skills in academic administration, and she will work collaboratively with faculty, students, staff, alumni and supporters to take the school to the next level–all the while honoring the principled leadership of Mr. Goizueta’s legacy.â€
In addition to James being the first black woman at Emory to hold this title, she’s also the first minority woman to head a full-time MBA program at a top-25 business school.
She will assume her new role at the university on July 15.