Provost Stokes Announces New Business College Dean

University of Missouri Provost Garnett Stokes announced the appointment of Ajay Vinzé as the new dean of the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business. Previously, Dr. Vinzé served as the Earl and Gladys Davis Distinguished Professor in the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. At ASU, Dr. Vinzé also served as associate dean of international programs in the W. P. Carey School of Business and the associate vice provost for graduate education. The appointment is effective January 1, 2017. 

“We’re very fortunate to have attracted a leader of Dr. Vinzé’s caliber to serve as our business dean,” Provost Stokes said. “His experience in the field of information systems and educational curriculum development as well as his outstanding experience as an academic leader will help him position the Trulaske College of Business to continue its record of success. I’m looking forward to working with him as MU continues to prepare students to face the ever-changing dynamics of the business world.” 

Dr. Vinzé joined the faculty of the ASU W. P. Carey School of Business in 1998, after serving on the faculty of the Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University for 10 years. During his tenure at ASU, Dr. Vinzé served in several leadership positions, including as director of the Management Information Systems doctoral program; founder of the Center for Advancing Business through Information Technology (CABIT) in the School of Business; and as the director of the Executive Masters of Business Administration (MBA) Program. Most recently, he directed international initiatives and global academic partnerships for the business school and also more broadly for ASU. 

Dr. Vinzé has a long history of academic research, focusing on topics including data analytics, emergency preparedness and response, disruptive innovation, economic value of information and computer technology investments, and collaborative computing. His research emphasizes the importance of technology innovation and organizational relevance. Dr. Vinzé also has extensive experience in the private sector, including serving on the board of directors for ISSC (a Taiwanese microchip corporation); serving as manager for a team that designed, developed and implemented a support system and database for the distribution of more than 1.5 million doses of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine; and serving as a member of the Super Bowl Public Health and Healthcare Workgroup for Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz. 

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead a vibrant business school like the Trulaske College of Business,” Dr. Vinzé said. “I am looking forward, with great enthusiasm, to joining the Mizzou family and working with high caliber faculty, dedicated staff and a wonderful student body. We live in exciting times. Business education and associated expectations are being redefined through complex interactions between technology innovations, globalization, demographic changes, and new fiscal realities. With Trulaske capabilities coupled with broader academic strengths at Mizzou, along with the support of alumni and business stakeholders, I am confident that we will be ready and well-positioned to succeed. I begin my tenure at Trulaske with a sense of excitement as we prepare to take our place among leading business schools. I invite faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners to join me as we position ourselves to transform business education through scholarship, global outlook, and entrepreneurial initiatives.” 

In 2008, Dr. Vinzé was named a Fulbright Senior Scholar, which was extended through 2014. Dr. Vinzé also currently serves as an executive board member for the Education Quality Accreditation Agency (EQUAA), which is an accreditation agency for higher education institutions in Latin America. He also earned the Faculty Excellence Award from ASU in 2012 for his outstanding faculty contributions. Dr. Vinzé graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Delhi, a master’s of business administration from the University of Connecticut, and a doctorate in business administration from the University of Arizona. 

Dr. Vinzé replaces Stephen Ferris, who has served as interim dean of the Trulaske College of Business since Joan Gabel left the position to become the provost at the University of South Carolina in the summer of 2015.