The George Washington University has announced that Sevin Yeltekin, an experienced and collaborative higher education leader, will be the permanent dean of the School of Business and a professor of finance, effective August 1.
Yeltekin is currently the dean of the Simon Business School and Frontier Professor of Business Administration at the University of Rochester, roles she has held since 2020.
“On behalf of George Washington University, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Yeltekin as the next dean of GW School of Business,” President Ellen M. Granberg said. “Considering her distinguished career as a leader and scholar as well as her experience in strategic planning, she brings a bold vision for the future of business education and research—one that embraces innovation, fosters collaboration and prepares students to lead in an ever-changing global economy. I look forward to working with Dr. Yeltekin to advance GWSB’s legacy of excellence and impact.”
As dean of the Simon Business School, Yeltekin’s many accomplishments have included the advancement of student learning and the recruitment of trailblazing faculty to raise the school’s profile. Yeltekin led the development of Simon’s 2025 strategic plan, which prioritizes investing in intellectual capital and research for the benefit of faculty, students and alumni engagement, entrepreneurship and innovation, opportunity and access and creative partnerships.
Yeltekin oversaw the creation of new and timely programs, including master of science degrees in business analytics and applied AI and AI in business, and led a comprehensive generative AI initiative to embed AI education into the curriculum, further building Simon’s reputation as an innovator in the business education discipline. With the University of Rochester Medical Center, Yeltekin partnered to launch a certificate program in healthcare leadership, and she engaged in other interdisciplinary partnerships with the University of Rochester’s Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and School of Arts & Sciences.
“Dr. Yeltekin’s leadership experience at a similarly prestigious university and her emphasis on academic program development, support for research, strong employer partnerships and fundraising are all extremely attractive qualities for our next School of Business dean,” Provost Christopher Alan Bracey said. “She will bring key insights and wisdom to this role and elevate the next generation of business leaders, and she will be a welcome addition to my senior leadership team.”
Before joining Simon Business school as dean, Yeltekin was the Rohet Tolani Distinguished Professor of Economics and senior associate dean of education at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business. There, she advanced undergraduate and graduate education, including leading the school’s five-year reaccreditation process, finalizing STEM designations for MBA and PhD programs, and launching an interdisciplinary economics and politics major. Prior to her roles at Carnegie Mellon, Yeltekin was a faculty member at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Yeltekin expressed her gratitude to the Simon Business School and the University of Rochester for the opportunity to grow as an academic leader over the last five years as well as her excitement for her forthcoming role at GW.
“I am delighted and honored to join GW leadership as the dean of the School of Business,” Yeltekin said. “This is both a time of upward momentum for this world-class academic institution, and a time of rapid change in the policy, business and higher education landscapes. The School of Business is uniquely positioned, with its deep relationships with many institutions across the nation’s capital, to make a positive impact as a convener and nurturer of global talent, ideas and business leadership. I am very excited to begin my journey at GWSB and work with leadership, alumni, faculty, staff and students to help GW achieve its aspirations as a preeminent academic powerhouse.”
Yeltekin is a distinguished scholar who has published broadly in fiscal policy design, social insurance design, computational economics and asset pricing implications of macro policy. She is a review editor for the Frontiers in Blockchain journal, an advisory board member of the Carnegie-NYU-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, and an executive board member and vice president of the Society of Economic Measurement.
She is a member of the American Economic Association and the Macro Finance Society and received her Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University.
Yeltekin was selected following a national search led by a committee of GW business faculty, trustees, staff, students and alumni.
"With impressive academic and administrative expertise and a keen understanding of the academic and business landscapes, Dr. Yeltekin is poised to help shape a promising and impactful future for our School of Business,” said Senay Agca, professor of finance and decision sciences and chair of the search committee. “Her commitment to fostering a collaborative and innovative environment will strengthen our community, elevate our business school to new levels of excellence and lasting achievement, and contribute to shaping responsible, forward-thinking and resilient business leaders."
Vanessa G. Perry has served as interim dean of the School of Business since the departure of Dean Anuj Mehrotra and will remain in this interim role until Yeltekin’s arrival. Perry has also served as vice dean for strategy and special adviser to the dean and is professor of marketing, strategic management and public policy.
“I would like to thank Dr. Perry for her exemplary service as interim dean,” Granberg said. “Her steady leadership and extensive administrative experience have not only ensured a smooth transition but also continued progress for the school, advancing key initiatives and demonstrating a steadfast commitment to GWSB faculty, staff and students.”
Bracey echoed the president’s praise of Perry’s strong leadership as interim dean.
“Dr. Perry has been a dedicated and inspirational leader during this transitional period,” Bracey said. “Her deep knowledge of the School of Business and her many relationships across GW have enabled the school to continue on its upward trajectory, and I am honored and grateful to have had her partnership.”