Dr. Jaydeep Balakrishnan is the optimal interim dean of Sacramento State’s College of Business as he takes over after Dr. William Cordeiro’s recent retirement. Balakrishnan will work to ensure the College’s continued operations while supporting faculty and staff to ensure student success and timely graduation.

With approximately 3,500 undergraduates and 500 graduate students, the College of Business has been growing in student body numbers and programming. Adding to their three MBAs with various foci (traditional, executive and online) and Master of  Science degree in accounting, the College now offers Master of Science degrees in business analytics and finance. In addition, the College has recently hired nine new faculty members and plans to hire six more.

Prior to this interim position, Balakrishnan served as associate dean for faculty support. Originally an engineer, his background is rich with variety and accomplishment, having earned his MBA and Ph.D. in supply chain management. He taught for 30 years and held various leadership roles, including department chair and associate dean as well as a supply chain management center director. “Through these experiences, I’ve gained leadership skills working with stakeholders within and outside the university,” he says.

“In true servant leadership form, I succeed when the College of Business succeeds and am honored to be in this role.” — Dr. Jaydeep Balakrishnan, Interim Dean, College of Business 

Balakrishnan counts his problem-solving attitude as one of his best attributes and one of his passions. “Leadership is really about problem solving, and every day I look forward to the ability to solve problems, whether they are short- or long-term,” he says. “That requires that I listen to and consult with my colleagues, which is key to the university’s shared governance policy.”

With a vision of inspiring transformative learning and knowledge creation in its students, enthusiasm for thought leadership in its faculty, and engagement with the community, the College of Business is poised for more growth and success. Balakrishnan concludes, “In true servant leadership form, I succeed when the College of Business succeeds and am honored to be in this role.”