Dean Spotlight: Wharton School’s Thomas Robertson
Whether you’re in the midst of the school selection process or have already applied, it may be helpful to have some background on those who are at the helm of some of the top-ranked MBA programs. Today, we’ll highlight Thomas S. Robertson, who has held the position of dean at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School since August 2007. In April 2013, he announced his plans to step down in June 2014, when his term ends.
A seasoned business school administrator and a member of the Wharton faculty from 1971 to 1994, he has long been a champion of international and interdisciplinary education. Since returning to Wharton as dean, his focus has been to expand Penn’s global footprint while advancing Wharton as a force for social and economic good. Robertson’s primary areas of focus while dean have been innovation, global initiatives, and social impact.
From 1994 to 1998, he was Sainsbury Professor, Chair of Marketing, and Deputy Dean of the London Business School in charge of the school’s portfolio of degree and non-degree programs. Robertson was Dean of Emory’s Goizueta Business School from 1998 to 2004, and is widely credited with positioning the school as an international leader in business education.
