April 01, 2017

Matthew Rousu, professor and Warehime chair of the Department of Economics, will become interim dean of the Sigmund Weis School of Business on May 1. He succeeds Marsha Kelliher, who has been appointed president of Walsh College in Troy, Mich.

Matt Rousu, interim dean of the Sigmund Weis School of Business

A Minnesota native, Rousu joined the business school faculty in 2004 as an assistant professor of economics, after serving for two years as a research consultant for Research Triangle Institute in North Carolina. A popular teacher, avid researcher and faculty representative on Susquehanna’s Board of Trustees, Rousu was promoted to full professor and Warehime chair, in part to mentor junior business school faculty on research. He also helped craft the business school’s research guidelines for faculty members to help Susquehanna continue to meet the requirements set by the international Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Also a prolific writer, Rousu’s opinion pieces have appeared in a number of national media outlets, and he is often approached by the media for comment in his areas of expertise. Most recently, he was featured in a USA Today article on college courses that cover topics in popular culture about his use of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton to teach economics principles.

Rousu is excited by the opportunity to lead the school as the university undertakes a national search for Kelliher’s permanent replacement. “I’ll have a little more than a year to continue the momentum that has been built under Dean Kelliher’s leadership. So many things are moving in the right direction, including our recent AACSB reaccreditation,” Rousu said. “Our faculty are doing good work with teaching, research and service. I want to do everything I can to support my colleagues.”

In a joint statement released earlier this year when the news of Kelliher’s departure was announced, Susquehanna President L. Jay Lemons and Provost and Dean of the Faculty Linda McMillin said, “We have no doubt that Matt will continue to move the Sigmund Weis School of Business forward, following on the heels of Dean Kelliher, whose tremendous vision and leadership took the very well-respected school and further advanced it.”