Babson College

Babson Welcomes Dr. Poonam Arora As New Undergraduate Dean

Babson College just announced that it is stepping into a new chapter of undergraduate leadership and welcoming Dr. Poonam Arora as the new dean of the Undergraduate School.

Arora’s academic path has given her the global, interdisciplinary mindset that Babson emulates. She earned her BBA from John Cabot University in Rome, her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, and her PhD in psychology from Columbia University.

“Dr. Arora brings a wealth of thought leadership and experience across academia and the corporate world to this new role,” says Provost and Executive Vice President Ariel Armony. “Her student-first approach to academic leadership will ensure that Babson remains the top destination for learners seeking to make the world a better place for generations to come.”

ARORA’S VISION MEETS BABSON’S DNA

Arora is departing from Quinnipiac University to join Babson, where she served as associate dean of faculty affairs and strategic initiatives and professor of management. Her work there involved leading strategic planning, strengthening reaccreditation efforts, redesigning assurance‑of‑learning processes, and pushing forward curriculum innovation.

What makes her especially aligned with Babson’s ethos is her passion for interdisciplinary learning. She is all about combining liberal arts thinking with business problem-solving.

“Dr. Arora has proven to be a passionate supporter of faculty excellence and interdisciplinary approaches to the integration of liberal arts and business education,” added Armony. “That support and philosophy will pair well with Babson’s proven Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® framework.”

Editor’s Note: The ET&A™ framework is Babson’s signature methodology built on the idea that entrepreneurial skills aren’t innate or exclusive, but learned through smart risk‑taking, collaboration, and turning personal passion into purposeful action.

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