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Ohio State names Chandrasekaran dean of Fisher College of Business

Appointment removes interim title held since June 2025

The Ohio State University has named Aravind Chandrasekaran (AC) dean of the Max M. Fisher College of Business, pending Board of Trustees approval.

Chandrasekaran has served as interim dean of the college since June 2025, building on more than 15 years as a faculty member, scholar and academic leader at the college. He will also continue to hold the John W. Berry, Sr. Chair in Business.

"AC has demonstrated a deep commitment to Fisher and a clear understanding of the role a great business college in Ohio can play," said Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Trevor Brown. "During his time as interim dean, he has generated incredible excitement and momentum around a number of priorities that are positioning business students for personal and professional success."

Since joining Ohio State in 2009, Chandrasekaran has earned widespread respect as an award-winning scholar, author of two books, and expert in healthcare operations, AI and process innovation. He brings extensive administrative experience from prior leadership roles across the college's graduate and executive programs, and his leadership has strengthened areas central to Fisher's continued advancement and is vital to the university's broader ambitions.

"I'm honored to have the opportunity to lead Fisher into its next chapter, and I couldn't be more optimistic about what's ahead. We've built strong momentum in enhancing the student experience, deepening industry engagement, and investing in our faculty, staff, research and innovation. This progress belongs to the many talented and dedicated people at Fisher who have helped bring our vision to life," Chandrasekaran said. "I'm grateful to President Bellamkonda and Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Brown for their trust and support, and I look forward to working alongside our university colleagues, students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners to build on what we've accomplished. Fisher has big plans and tremendous opportunities ahead, and I'm energized by what we can achieve together."

Under Chandrasekaran's leadership, the college is creatively redefining the student experience to better equip Business Buckeyes with the skills to shape what's next as emerging business leaders. The reimagined undergraduate experience introduces students to business learning earlier in their college journeys while also creating stronger connections between classroom education and real-world application. The approach emphasizes key skills designed to transform students into business-technology integrators who can blend the digital agility and critical thinking required by today's marketplace.

The emphasis on experiential learning, coupled with a refreshed curriculum, will yield graduates equipped to excel in four key areas, regardless of industry. This matrix ― the Fisher Advantage ― is the college's unified framework for developing future-ready graduates.

The Fisher Advantage focuses on developing graduates who are:

• Business experts
• Analytical and innovative problem-solvers
• Effective communicators
• Resilient and growth-oriented leaders

The college is also strengthening valuable talent and workforce development partnerships with companies and industries locally, nationally and globally.

Underpinning this work is Chandrasekaran's ongoing effort to create a multifaceted culture for faculty and staff focused on teaching, research, service, collaboration and innovation.

"Fisher connects academic excellence with the needs of business, prepares students for a changing economy and translates faculty and student research into impact," Brown said. "Under AC's leadership, the college has an opportunity to build substantially on its reputation and to increase its influence across Ohio State, throughout the state and in the business community."

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