Sharon Matusik, future dean of U-M Ross School of Business.

Sharon Matusik—whose efforts as dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado led to greater student outcomes, record fundraising and significant growth in the academic preparedness and diversity of applicants—will be the new Edward J. Frey Dean of Business at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

The U-M Board of Regents approved her five-year appointment May 19 following a national search conducted by a search advisory committee. Her renewable term begins Aug. 1 and runs through July 31, 2027.

Matusik, who also was appointed a tenured professor of business at the Ross School, follows Scott DeRue, who stepped down as dean last year. Francine Lafontaine has served as interim dean of the school since May 2021.

“Professor Matusik is a distinguished scholar and teacher whose foci include strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship,” said U-M Provost Laurie McCauley. “As an academic leader, she has a strong record of accomplishment in critical areas—student success, diversifying the faculty, campus and community engagement—that will contribute to the Ross School achieving its goals.”

Matusik credited the Ross School for its “tremendous impact” on the field of business and her own career.

“When I reflect on the transformational ideas in my field, the most influential mentors and my teaching role models, they have a Ross connection,” Matusik said. “What unites them all is a deep commitment to making an important impact.

“It is truly my honor to work with the Ross community to further elevate this impact through students, research and community connections, and to lead Ross as its next dean. Ross is especially well-positioned to expand its already stellar academic excellence and leadership into the future.”

In her recommendation to regents, McCauley cited Matusik’s success in developing and executing on three strategic priorities since becoming dean of the Leeds School of Business in 2017. The first was an innovative partnership between the business school and the university’s College of Engineering and Applied Science that included the planning, fundraising for and completion of a new building connecting the two schools.

Other key priorities included the “End the Gap” initiative aimed at gender parity in business leadership and the “Career Impact” initiative designed to align the student experience with skills needed for long-term career success.

Under Matusik’s leadership, the business school also saw record-breaking fundraising and community engagement, launched two new MBA programs for working professionals and increased the size of its research faculty by 41%, which included a significant increase in diversity.

Matusik first joined the Leeds School as an assistant professor in 2004, rising to a full professor of strategy and entrepreneurship in 2014. Prior to her appointment as dean, she served as senior associate dean for faculty and research and the academic director of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship.

Before arriving at the University of Colorado, Matusik was on the faculty at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University.

Her teaching and research interests include strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge assets. She has received multiple awards for research, teaching and service to her profession, including the Excellence in Leadership Award from the University of Colorado four-campus system.

Matusik earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and English from Colby College. She earned a Ph.D. in strategic management from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and worked in the field of consulting prior to her academic career.