The new School of Management dean, Jess Boronico, Ph.D., talks about enriching the NYIT experience, how students can compete in the global marketplace, and what it's like to almost be the opening act for Black Sabbath.

By Michael Schiavetta

In the crowded office of Jess Boronico, among the dozens of academic textbooks guarded by gargoyle figurines, issues of Harvard Business Review lined along the back wall, and jewel cases of classical music CDs, rests a small wooden puzzle. To solve it requires nothing more than assembling two pieces to form a pyramid. There are no trick solutions, and only a little creative thinking is required. Sounds simple, right?

"It drives people nuts," Boronico says with a smile. "They usually give up after a few minutes. But once the solution is realized, it demonstrates how things fit into place if you look at them the right way."

His long, jet black hair and six-foot-plus frame give NYIT's new dean for the School of Management a commanding stage presence--MTV meets Ph.D. at first glance--but once he talks about preparing students for 21st-century careers, Boronico is all business.

"Experiential learning will define business education in the future," he states. "That means internships, learning about foreign markets in places such as China and the Middle East, faculty-mentored research, and bringing the corporate sector into the classroom to provide the reality-based learning opportunities every student will need."

Boronico's appointment came after an extensive search to find candidates who had the credentials and the vision to guide the School of Management in a new direction, as directed by NYIT's 2030 strategic plan. The plan--and, not by coincidence, Boronico's vision--is grounded in the belief that the educational landscape that has existed for centuries must adapt to a 21st-century world defined by ubiquitous technology, global competition, and the consequent need for highly proficient knowledge workers.

"Dr. Boronico was clearly the top choice, based on his extraordinary accomplishments and ability to develop new programs and initiatives," says Edward Guiliano, Ph.D., president of NYIT. "He and the administrators he has brought with him will be a great asset to NYIT's short- and long - term plans."

Boronico is familiar with a dean's life, having fulfilled the same role at the University of New Haven's College of Business. He also served as dean at William Paterson University and Monmouth University. His academic degrees include a Doctorate of Philosophy in Operations Research and Management Science from the Wharton School of Business, and a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

At NYIT's School of Management, Boronico will oversee 55 full-time and 40 adjunct professors at a school that includes 1,800 undergraduates and 1,900 graduate students worldwide. Currently, the School of Management offers bachelor's degrees in business administration and accounting, as well as master's degrees in business administration (with a number of concentrations) and human resources management/labor relations. He plans to further NYIT's interdisciplinary programs by working with other deans to provide students with opportunities to learn from a variety of academic disciplines.

"I came here to transform the school," he says, adding the changes he plans will validate NYIT's academic curricula in the coming years and underscore the excellent work the university is doing to become a recognized leader in business education.

Boronico plans to accomplish this by introducing new business education models to the School of Management's curricula. One such initiative, the Professional Enrichment Program, unites NYIT students, alumni, faculty, and the business community and cultivates meaningful partnerships between these stakeholder groups, while enhancing the co-curricular educational experiences for all those involved. The objective is to ease the transition from the classroom to the corporate sector by integrating students directly into the business world.

Workshops and seminars--open to all NYIT students and alumni--are designed to address emerging issues in business and also strengthen "soft" business skills. Emerging business issues include global economic conditions, running a business in the 21st century, and understanding how culture affects international business relationships. Soft skills include interview and resume-writing strategies, how to network effectively, and giving presentations in a corporate environment. Though some courses were introduced in the spring 2008 semester, the full program will launch this fall.

Developed by Boronico at two other universities, the initiative had been noted by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and other accreditation consultants as "a best practice-type" effort and a "strong and effective practice."

"The Professional Enrichment Program helps students align their professional, academic, and personal goals, enabling them to become better citizens of the global community," says Raja Nag, Ph.D., who has been associate dean in Boronico's administration at the three schools prior to joining NYIT's School of Management. "By tailoring workshops and seminars that specifically address diversity, community involvement, business culture, and other relevant subjects, we help them understand the issues facing today's corporate leaders."

Professor Jim Murdy, Ph.D., joined the duo in 2005 at the University of New Haven and made the move with them to NYIT. As director of the Professional Enrichment Program, he says it's his job to give students a competitive advantage in their careers. That includes initiatives to complement the enrichment program, such as job shadowing, which pairs students with business leaders in the workplace, and an ambassador module that allows students to learn leadership skills and cultivate professional relationships with businesses and alumni.

Murdy also serves as director of NYIT's new Global Center for Hospitality Management, which will bring together students, alumni, business leaders, and faculty to provide experiential learning opportunities, workforce development, and academic programs for students interested in hospitality, tourism, and related industries as these careers demand more multicultural and global awareness. The center will also offer new master's degrees in international tourism and international hospitality management.

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