Darden’s Dean Bruner Plans Return to Faculty Position

Earlier this month, the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business announced Dean Robert Bruner‘s intention to return to a faculty position and take a traditional one-year leave of absence when his second term as dean ends in July 2015.

Bruner and his leadership team have propelled Darden to phenomenal success, particularly in the areas of technology, diversity, globalization, and entrepreneurship and innovation. The dean is a huge proponent of social media, an active blogger, and frequent tweeter, and has also lent his full support to the school’s dive into Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).

As part of the Campaign for the University of Virginia, Bruner and team raised $150 million for Darden and established new research “centers of excellence,” including the Darden Center for Asset Management and the Darden Institute for Business in Society. Financial aid for students has also increased, and the academic potential, diversity and geographic reach of students have reached new heights. The Class of 2015 boasts record-breaking GMAT scores and grade-point averages and represents 37 countries.

On his blog, Bruner gives various personal reasons for his decision, which include getting back to his first love—teaching—and having accomplished much of what he had hoped to achieve when assuming the deanship in 2005.

Executive Vice President and Provost John Simon said a committee would soon conduct a global search for the ninth dean of the Darden School. “Bob has laid a strong foundation for Darden to continue to make its mark on the world stage.”

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