Christiane Spitzmueller Appointed Dean of Bologna Business School
16 July 2026Starting on September 15, 2026, Christiane Spitzmueller will lead Bologna Business School, bringing extensive international experience in research, academic leadership, and innovation in higher education.
The Board of Directors of the Bologna Business School Foundation has appointed Christiane Spitzmueller as the School’s new Dean. Currently Professor of Psychological Sciences and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Strategy at the University of California, Merced, Spitzmueller will officially assume the role on September 15, 2026.
An internationally recognized academic leader, Christiane Spitzmueller has built her career at the intersection of research, institutional development, and strategic planning. In the United States, she has held increasingly senior leadership positions at the University of Houston and the University of California, Merced, leading initiatives focused on academic program development, organizational innovation, and partnerships between universities, businesses, and public institutions.
Her appointment marks another significant step in Bologna Business School’s internationalization journey and further strengthens the School’s ambition to serve as a global reference point for management education by fostering dialogue between academic excellence, business, and the local community.
“I am thrilled to join a School that is experiencing an extraordinary period of growth, built upon the leadership of Max Bergami. Bologna Business School is truly unique, bringing together world-class academic research and one of Europe’s most dynamic industrial ecosystems.” — Christiane Spitzmueller
The new Dean will be officially introduced to the Bologna Business School community during Graduation 2026, which will take place on September 18 in Piazza Maggiore.
