Stanford has announced that Sarah A. Soule will take over as the new dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Sarah has a rich background in organizational behavior and leadership roles at Stanford. She’s been with the GSB since 2008 and has been the senior associate dean for academic affairs from 2016 to 2023. Recently, she served as the director of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences.
Starting June 16, 2025, Sarah will take on her new role as the Philip H. Knight Professor and dean. She succeeds Jonathan Levin, who recently transitioned to president of Stanford University, while Professor Peter DeMarzo has been acting as interim dean.
Stanford Provost Jenny Martinez expressed excitement about Sarah’s leadership, highlighting her understanding of organizations and commitment to improving the GSB. The school is also marking its centennial this year, celebrating 100 years of excellence in management education.
In her own words, Sarah noted how proud she is of the GSB’s legacy in shaping principled leaders. She emphasized the importance of individual experiences in education, even as technology continues to advance. “At the GSB, we transform students into leaders who can make a difference,” she stated.
Sarah will make history as the first woman to lead the GSB. A search will begin to find her successor at the behavioral sciences center. Alongside her leadership roles, she actively researches and teaches, focusing on organizational theory, social movements, and political sociology. Her work often looks at how policies change and evolve within institutions and societies.
Her teaching covers topics such as strategy and organizational design. Sarah also co-directs the Stanford LEAD Online Business Program. Peter DeMarzo, the interim dean, praised her collaborative spirit and ability to connect with the GSB community, emphasizing she is poised to lead the school successfully.
In addition to her role at the GSB, Sarah is a courtesy professor of sociology in the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences. Before joining Stanford, she was a professor at the University of Arizona and Cornell University. She holds advanced degrees in sociology from Cornell and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont.
Sarah has authored several significant works, including the book Contention and Corporate Social Responsibility, and has contributed to various prestigious journals. She has received numerous teaching awards and has been involved with several nonprofit boards. Additionally, she serves on the Faculty Advisory Board for the Stanford d.school and participates in the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program.
Neil Malhotra, who co-chaired the search committee, highlighted Sarah’s innovative mindset and her ability to unite diverse groups around the GSB’s mission to positively impact society through education.
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