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The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business will welcome two new associate deans on June 1, 2025, a leadership expansion designed to match the school’s rising national profile.

While both associate deans will collaborate on the school’s overarching strategy, each will steer a distinct area of impact:

• Associate Professor Margarita Kaprielyan will oversee responsibilities for advancing faculty and staff mentoring, inclusive pedagogy and student‑success initiatives.
• Professor Mark Kurt will guide curriculum innovation, graduate studies and global academic partnerships.

Incoming Dean Haya Ajjan said the complementary structure ensures that every new course, program and experiential opportunity is matched by high‑impact mentorship and support for students and colleagues alike.

“Bringing Professor Kaprielyan and Professor Kurt into these complementary roles gives the Love School of Business the best of both worlds,” Ajjan said. “Professor Kaprielyan’s talent for cultivating people and fostering inclusive excellence will elevate our faculty, staff and students, while Professor Kurt’s strategic vision for curriculum innovation and global engagement will expand the horizons of our academic programs.

“I’m energized by the possibilities their combined strengths unlock for our school’s future.”

Margarita Kaprielyan, associate dean for faculty development and student success

Kaprielyan, an associate professor of finance known for equity‑minded mentorship and experiential learning initiatives, will guide the people‑centered side of the Love School of Business’s mission. Her recent accomplishments include helping create ���ϲ�����’s real‑estate curriculum, launching AI‑driven student initiatives and expanding inclusive-excellence training for colleagues.

In her new role as associate dean, Kaprielyan will:

• Lead faculty and staff mentoring and promotion and tenure processes
• Coordinate student‑success initiatives with the school’s Porter Family Professional Development Center and the university’s Student Professional Development Center
• Oversee student organizations and signature experiences such as Lessons from Leaders and Executive‑in‑Residence
• Support the planned Love School of Business Incubator/Hatchery for student ventures

“I’m honored to step into this role at such an exciting moment for our school,” Kaprielyan said. “Working alongside Dean Ajjan, Dean Kurt, and our exceptional faculty and staff, I will focus on cultivating a supportive, forward-looking environment that empowers colleagues to innovate and guides students toward purpose-driven success. Together we’ll elevate the academic experience while remaining grounded in our shared mission of engaged, inclusive learning.”

Mark Kurt, associate dean for curriculum and academic programming

Kurt, a professor of economics and assistant dean of global education, brings deep expertise in program design and global engagement. During his tenure, he has overseen academic operations for more than 1,300 study‑away students each year, led the development of 29 new or redesigned global courses and helped establish the forthcoming Love School of Business’s program in Singapore and National Campus Program in Charlotte.

In his new role as associate dean, he will:

• Oversee all graduate programs and the undergraduate core curriculum
• Lead national and international initiatives
• Guide strategic curriculum development and assurance of learning
• Support the Business Fellows, 3+1 accelerated degree program and dual‑degree pathways
• Collaborate with department chairs on accreditation and rankings

“���ϲ����� and the Love School of Business have shaped me profoundly as a teacher, scholar and mentor,” Kurt said. “Serving as associate dean for curriculum and academic programming allows me to give back by partnering with Professor Kaprielyan and collaborating with the faculty and staff who make this community exceptional. I’m eager to join with Dean Ajjan and Dean Kaprielyan to champion innovative, student-centered programs that broaden opportunities and elevate learning for every student.”

Members of the Internal Search Committee

• Casey DiRienzo (chair), professor of economics and department chair of economics
• Raychel Diver Lockwood, director of development for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business
• Smaraki Mohanty, assistant professor of marketing
• Robert Moorman, Frank S. Holt, Jr. professor of business leadership and professor of organizational behavior
• Robert Sheu, assistant professor of accounting
• Kate Upton, associate professor of finance and director of the William Garrard Reed Finance Center