Burlington, Vermont — The University of Vermont has appointed Indian American educationist Vikas Anand as the new dean of its nationally recognized Grossman School of Business, effective July 1, 2026.
The appointment, announced by UVM President Marlene Tromp and Interim Provost Linda S.Schadler on February 2, marks a significant leadership transition for the institution.
Key Facts
• Vikas Anand will assume the position on July 1, 2026, transitioning from his current role as Associate Dean for Academic Programs at North Carolina State University's Poole College of Management.
• He previously spent more than 20 years at the University of Arkansas, where he held executive roles including MBA program director, management department chair, and career center director managing a $5.6 million endowment.
• Anand holds a PhD in Management from Arizona State University and has published 28 peer-reviewed journal articles with over 6,000 academic citations.
Anand's appointment comes as the Grossman School continues expanding its emphasis on experiential learning and socially responsible business education. His record includes redesigning MBA curricula, launching innovative master's programs, and increasing executive MBA enrollment at his previous institutions.
At NC State, he has overseen undergraduate and graduate programs, executive education, global initiatives, and career services.
The appointment signals UVM's commitment to strengthening the Grossman School's academic offerings and industry connections. Under Anand's leadership, the school aims to prepare students for careers in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving global economy.
His experience with interdisciplinary programs and emerging areas positions him to guide institutional innovation.
Anand's educational credentials span multiple prestigious institutions across India and the United States. He earned his doctorate from Arizona State University and holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's in physics from Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, India.
He also completed an MBA in international business from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.
At the University of Arkansas, Anand managed significant structural changes across graduate programs and student services. He expanded executive MBA enrollment, restructured career services, and led initiatives on alumni engagement and lifelong learning.
His work emphasized connecting classroom learning with real-world professional settings through experiential education models.
Collaborators describe Anand as a forward-thinking leader who combines academic rigor with innovative vision. His research interests encompass sustainability, artificial intelligence, and global education—areas increasingly critical to business school curricula.
He has taught across all business education levels, from undergraduate courses to doctoral seminars, earning recognition for classroom teaching and student mentorship.
UVM President Marlene Tromp praised the appointment in a statement, noting,
Interin Provost Linda Schadler added,
The endorsement reflects confidence in Anand's ability to navigate the institution's strategic priorities while maintaining academic excellence.
Do You Know?
Vikas Anand's research has been cited more than 6,000 times in peer-reviewed publications, demonstrating significant influence within the academic business community. His scholarly contributions focus on organizational behavior, management innovation, and business education pedagogy—areas essential to modern management curricula.
Key Terms
• Associate Dean for Academic Programs: A senior leadership role overseeing undergraduate and graduate curricula, executive education programs, and student-facing initiatives like career services and global partnerships.
• MBA Curriculum Redesign: Modernizing graduate business programs to incorporate experiential learning, global perspectives, and emerging topics like sustainability and artificial intelligence to meet evolving employer demands.
• Experiential Learning: Educational approaches emphasizing hands-on experience, internships, case studies, and real-world projects integrated into classroom instruction for practical skill development.