H. Rao Unnava, dean of the University of California, Davis Graduate School of Management, has been named Poets&Quants' Dean of the Year for 2024. The recognition highlights Unnava's significant contributions to business education and his innovative leadership since joining UC Davis in 2016.
Unnava, a 65-year-old marketing professor, joins an elite group of academic leaders who have received this honor, including deans from Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and Yale School of Management. His selection underscores the impact of his ambitious change agenda and decisive leadership style.
Under Unnava's guidance, UC Davis has pioneered several groundbreaking initiatives in business education. The school became the first University of California business school to launch an online MBA and a Master's in Management program. It also introduced credit-bearing stackable credentials applicable toward degree programs and made all online content freely available to alumni.
Perhaps most notably, Unnava successfully launched an undergraduate business major in partnership with two other Davis colleges, a feat previously considered unattainable. These innovations have significantly expanded the school's reach, with nearly 70% of this year's 441 incoming graduate students enrolled in programs created during Unnava's tenure.
Unnava's approach to leadership emphasizes institutional progress over personal gain. "The hardest thing is moving things forward through a bureaucracy, and the easiest thing is whatever you do, you do it for the institution and not for yourself," he stated. This philosophy has driven substantial changes at UC Davis, positioning the school at the forefront of business education innovation.
The recognition of Unnava as Dean of the Year reflects broader trends in business education, highlighting the importance of adaptability, innovation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in preparing students for the evolving business landscape. His achievements at UC Davis serve as a model for other institutions seeking to modernize their approach to business education and expand their impact in an increasingly competitive field.
