By Keerthi Ramesh,
Indian American finance leader Savita Sharma has joined Poole College of Management at North Carolina State University as its new assistant dean for finance and business operations.
“I am truly excited to join the Poole College team and look forward to building on its strong foundation to support its exceptional faculty, staff and students,” said Sharma after joining the Raleigh, North Carolina-based business school on Feb. 1.
The Assistant Dean for Finance and Business Operations is in charge of making and executing Poole’s financial and operational strategy, according to a college announcement. The role is responsible for budgeting, financial forecasting, risk management and compliance. She’ll also be the primary liaison to university offices and external partners.
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“We are delighted to welcome Savita to the Poole College of Management,” said Dean Frank Buckless. “Her proven expertise in operational leadership, financial oversight and strategic implementation — combined with her ability to build collaborative, high-performing teams — uniquely position Savita to have immediate impact as a member of our leadership team and to help advance the college’s strategic goals.”
Sharma comes to Poole from the NC State Graduate School, where she has served as the Assistant Dean for Finance, Operations and IT since 2020.
She oversaw budget, finance, HR and IT functions for the program, balancing current needs with long-term fiscal goals. She was specifically in charge of budgeting, financial reporting, procurement and contract operations, and also led the Graduate Student Support Plan administration and finances.
Before joining NC State, Sharma spent over 12 years at Virginia Tech. She served nearly nine of those years as Chief of Staff to the Vice President for Finance and CFO. Prior to her work in higher education, she served as an accountant and auditor at various firms, including Deloitte.
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Sharma earned both her BBA and master’s in accounting from Texas A&M University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor.
Named after benefactor Lonnie C. Poole Jr., NC State’s business school offers undergraduate and graduate programs across areas such as accounting, economics, management, and entrepreneurship, and stresses analytical thinking, real-world engagement and leadership development.
Sharma’s role will be vital as the college continues to adapt to evolving higher education financial challenges, including balancing instructional priorities with operational demands. Her leadership comes at a time when many universities are intensifying efforts to align financial planning with long-term strategic goals.