Professor Roger Sugden has been appointed dean of the faculty of management at UBC’s Okanagan campus.
Sugden, who brings extensive international experience in business education and global economics to the position, will begin a five-year term starting in October.
He comes to UBC from service as professor of socio-economic development and founding head of the management school at the University of Stirling in Scotland. He has led numerous prominent initiatives for the European Commission and British Council.
Deborah Buszard, deputy vice chancellor, says Sugden’s appointment is a significant step for the Okanagan campus.
“We are delighted to have such an accomplished academic as Roger Sugden to teach and lead our students and faculty,” says Buszard. “In today’s age of globalization and business without boundaries, the Okanagan will benefit greatly from his experience.”
UBC’s Wesley Pue says the search for a suitable candidate to lead the faculty of management spanned the globe.
“Dr. Sugden is committed to engaging locally, while strengthening our global connections, deepening UBC’s relationships with business and ensuring that our students benefit from a top-quality education and outstanding university experience,” said Pue.
“He brings with him a record of tremendous scholarly accomplishment, significant leadership contributions at leading universities – and a unique intellectual imagination.”
Sugden earned PhD and master’s degrees in economics from Warwick University as well as a law degree from Sheffield University. He was founding head of the management school and head of internationalization for Stirling University, ranked first in Scotland and eighth in the U.K. amongst world universities under 50 years old, according to The Times.
Prior to this, Sugden served twice as head of the department of commerce at the University of Birmingham, the oldest and one of the most respected business schools in England. During this time, Sugden served as director of inter-related research centres and led the school’s industrial and labour economics group to a five ranking in the U.K.’s research assessment exercise.
Sugden has also delivered research seminars in many countries, including Argentina, Chile, China, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Nicaragua, Spain and the U.S.
His research has focused on economic organization and development, globalization, and on public initiatives stimulating socioeconomic democracy. Sugden has written five books, edited a dozen more and has nearly 50 principal publications in leading academic journals.
Sugden eagerly anticipates taking the helm of the faculty of management.
“The combination of UBC’s reputation as among the best in the world, its strong values and the special characteristics of the Okanagan campus offer a tremendous opportunity to develop an internationally unique faculty,” said Sugden.
“I look forward to contributing to that development, and fostering the teaching and research expertise upon which it depends.
“We will engage with communities in the Okanagan and beyond, and build on the tradition of providing our students with an education that is among the best in the world.”
