Rajib N. Sanyal, a noted Indian American international management scholar, has been named interim dean of Illinois State University’s College of Business.
An experienced business school dean with extensive expertise in AACSB accreditation and organizational leadership, Sanyal begins his appointment Jan. 1, 2027, and continues through June 30, 2027, according to a university release.
Sanyal, a Delhi and Calcutta university alumnus, will succeed Ajay Samant, who will conclude his service as dean on Dec. 31, 2026, and return to the College of Business faculty. Illinois State will begin a national search this fall for the college’s next permanent dean.
Sanyal brings more than two decades of business school leadership experience to Illinois State, including service as dean at Adelphi University, Ball State University, and Northern Michigan University, all AACSB-accredited institutions.
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“Dr. Sanyal brings the kind of experience we were seeking for this important transition period in the College of Business,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Ani Yazedjian. “He will work with faculty and staff to advance the college’s priorities and strengthen leadership capacity, as well as help ensure it is well positioned during this important year of record as it prepares for its next AACSB accreditation review.”
Sanyal has served extensively as an AACSB peer reviewer and peer review team chair and mentored the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan for its successful initial accreditation.
These experiences will be particularly valuable as Illinois State’s College of Business prepares for its upcoming accreditation review.
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Drawing on his own experience as an American Council on Education Fellow, he has coached and mentored academic leaders and strengthened leadership teams. His recent work has included helping institutions prepare for leadership transitions.
“I look forward to learning from the college community, building on its strengths, supporting its accreditation priorities, and working collaboratively with faculty and staff to prepare it for the next chapter,” Sanyal said.
Sanyal’s academic background is in industrial relations, human resource management, and international business. He earned a PhD in business administration with a concentration in industrial relations from Georgia State University, a Master of Science in industrial relations from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and degrees in business and commerce from the University of Delhi and the University of Calcutta. He is an accomplished scholar whose work includes more than 45 peer-reviewed articles and a textbook on international management.