Dean Joyce Strawser Named to NJBIZ List of Best 50 Women in Business 2021  

Joyce Strawser, Ph.D., dean of the Stillman School of Business, has been named to the NJBIZ list of Best 50 Women in Business 2021. Strawser is the only dean and one of only two from higher education to make the list.

Selected by an independent panel of judges, those recognized are "making significant impact on New Jersey business and the community at large as well as shaping the economic future of the state." The independent judges chose the top 50 women from an unprecedented number of nominations, rating submissions based on five categories: career accomplishments, leadership, vision, community service and mentoring.

"Dean Strawser has consistently shown an understanding of business trends and opportunities. Her future plans for Stillman carve out a pathway for excellence in many existing and new business disciplines, ensuring that students are prepared for the careers of the future," said Provost Katia Passerini. "The emphasis on ‘transforming concepts into practice,' which is the School's tagline, signals Stillman's focus on direct impact, informed by strong theoretical foundation. Seton Hall is blessed to have such a transformative leader at the helm of its prestigious business school."

Under Strawser's leadership as dean since 2010, enrollments in the Stillman School's undergraduate program have nearly doubled, scholarship funds distributed to students has seen a three-fold increase, the six-year graduation rate has grown, and the overall job placement rate for undergraduates has consistently ranged from 90-95%. There have also been new undergraduate programs such as concentrations in entrepreneurship, finance and technology and mathematical finance, along with the implementation of an online M.B.A. and a new online M.S. in Business Analytics.

"An unparalleled leader and an indefatigable supporter of faculty and students, Dean Strawser is a most-deserving recipient to be among the ‘Best 50 Women in Business.' On behalf of the faculty of the Department of Finance, the largest department in the Stillman School, I heartily congratulate her," shared Finance Department Chair Tony Loviscek.

During Strawser's time as dean, the Stillman School earned reaccreditation from AACSB International both in 2015 and 2020 and is one of only two business schools throughout New Jersey, and one of only 190 institutions worldwide to have earned AACSB accreditation both in its business program and its accounting program. U.S. News & World Report ranks the undergraduate business program at 106 in the nation, and the part-time M.B.A. program 73rd in the nation.  

Her Stillman colleagues share that she has been "a visionary in blending student learning with practical applications." This is not only evidenced by the work being done in the School's eight learning labs, but also in the establishment of mentoring programs and the formation of discipline-specific advisory boards to ensure that the School's curriculum is responsive to the needs of today's organizations.

"Dean Joyce Strawser is a pragmatic leader who strives for excellence in all that she does. During her tenure, the Stillman School has continually reached new heights. She is an inspiring role model for her faculty and students alike," said Susan Scherreik, founding director of the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Strawser is also recognized as a leader in business education by her peers. At the state level, she has served as advisor for the New Jersey Collegiate Business Administration Association (NJCBAA). At the regional level, she was elected treasurer of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Colleges of Business, and at the international level, Dean Strawser was elected by deans worldwide to serve on the board of the AACSB. Moreover, she has volunteered her time on an array of accreditation visits with business schools around the world.

"Seton Hall University is extraordinarily fortunate to have Joyce Strawser leading the School as it develops the values-anchored business professionals of tomorrow," said Karen Boroff, management professor and dean emeritus. "Likewise, as New Jersey strives to advance commerce in every domain, including business education, Joyce Strawser is an exemplar in every way."

Recently Dean Strawser was also named to the prestigious 2021 ROI Influencers: Higher Education list by ROI-NJ, a digital and print outlet covering the world of business and politics in New Jersey. The deans and directors on the list were recognized for being most impactful to the business community, and Strawser was specifically praised for the fintech program and recently launched Center for Securities Trading and Business Analytics.

NJBIZ will honor the Best 50 Women in Business at a special virtual celebration taking place on Monday, October 25, from 6 - 7 p.m.

Categories: Business, Nation and World