COLUMBUS, Ohio (Diya TV) — The Ohio State University has appointed Aravind Chandrasekaran as the interim dean of the Max M. Fisher College of Business, effective June 1, pending approval by the university’s Board of Trustees. The two-year term places Chandrasekaran, a longtime faculty member and current senior associate dean, at the helm of one of the nation’s top public business schools during a pivotal period of strategic growth and innovation.
Chandrasekaran will also hold the prestigious John W. Berry, Sr. Chair in Business. He joined Fisher in 2009 and currently serves as the Fisher Distinguished Professor of Operations, overseeing key areas including faculty life, research, and executive education.
“Fisher has a strong legacy of excellence, and I’m excited to work with our outstanding faculty, staff, students, and alumni to build on that foundation,” Chandrasekaran said in a university statement. “Our scale and volume are a source of strength, and together we will continue to march forward expanding our corporate outreach, fostering innovation, and driving meaningful impact in business education and practice.”
Chandrasekaran, widely recognized for his research in health care operations, organizational learning, and innovation, brings a bold vision to his new role. His priorities include enhancing the undergraduate experience through experiential learning, infusing artificial intelligence into the curriculum, and cultivating entrepreneurial confidence among students. He also plans to strengthen industry ties and reimagine the college’s physical infrastructure to better support collaboration and innovation.
Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda expressed confidence in Chandrasekaran’s ability to lead the college into its next chapter. “Fisher is already a strong business college, and its upward trajectory is critical for Ohio State’s collective success,” Bellamkonda said. “Being mindful of the high aspiration we have for Fisher and needing to move quickly, I am thrilled to have AC in place as the right leader for this moment.”
Under Chandrasekaran’s leadership, Fisher aims to expand its reach as a “business college for businesses,” deepening connections with industry to enhance talent pipelines, share research insights, and grow executive education offerings. He has led custom teaching and research programs for companies such as Ford Motor Company, Tata Consultancy Services, and Zimmer, positioning him well to grow these efforts.
In his previous role as associate dean for graduate programs and executive education, Chandrasekaran oversaw Fisher’s full-time and working professional MBA programs, as well as specialized master’s and non-degree executive education programs. His efforts have contributed to Fisher’s national rankings, including a No. 7 spot among public universities for undergraduate business education, according to U.S. News & World Report.
As interim dean, Chandrasekaran succeeds Trevor Brown, who served in the role over the past academic year while continuing as dean of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs.
Chandrasekaran’s academic contributions span leading journals such as Management Science, Journal of Operations Management, and Harvard Business Review. His work focuses on health care systems, AI-driven operational excellence, product and process innovation, and ambidextrous organizational learning.
“Guided by his leadership, and with support from the Fisher and Ohio State community, the college will be poised for continued success,” said Bellamkonda.
