As the new dean of the George Washington University School of Business, Sevin Yeltekin brings a clear vision to strengthen community connections, promote interdisciplinary collaboration and position the school as a leader at the intersection of business, technology, law and policy.
Yeltekin is an experienced and innovative leader in higher education who has dedicated her career to expanding opportunities for students. She brings a wealth of academic leadership experience and a deep passion for advancing student success.
At the heart of her goals as dean is fostering a lasting community of scholars and leaders who can work across disciplines, drive innovation and have a positive impact that reaches far beyond campus.
“I would really like to build out the community—connecting people who are here today with alumni and our partners across industry and policy institutions,” Yeltekin said. “That would be my biggest goal. That way, we can make an impact on our students, on our faculty and on the environment that we live in.”
Before joining GW Business, she served as dean of the Simon Business School and Frontier Professor of Business Administration at the University of Rochester in New York. During her tenure, she advanced student learning, recruited leading faculty and spearheaded the creation of new and timely programs, including Master of Science degrees in business analytics, applied AI and AI in business.
Yeltekin also led the development of Simon’s 2025 strategic plan, which emphasizes intellectual capital, research, innovation, access and partnership
She said her passion for higher education stems from her deep belief in its transformative power to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed and drive innovation.
“I do believe that education completely changes lives and opportunities,” Yeltekin said. “It certainly did for me, and I love being part of an institution that does that.”
Part of what drew Yeltekin to GW is the university’s strong focus on research and innovation, along with its unique ability to integrate policy, business and law to create real-world impact.
“This is an institution that generates knowledge, and that’s incredibly energizing,” Yeltekin said. “Policy is a huge component of how we make business decisions, and it defines the environment that we live in.”
In her first few months on campus, Yeltekin is eager to contribute to university-wide initiatives that reflect GW’s collaborative spirit. She noted that interdisciplinary education and research are key components of the university’s strategic framework, an approach she has long championed.
“That’s something I’ve always believed in because, especially at this juncture, we don’t just train people to do one thing or work in a particular narrow discipline. We solve problems more effectively when we combine disciplines together,” Yeltekin said. “So I’m really excited to pair up with the engineering school, the law school or the Elliott School to offer programs that sit at the intersection of those disciplines.”
Furthermore, Yeltekin envisions building on GW’s strengths to expand the school’s influence and impact.
“I’ve heard that there’s an opportunity to be a convener of thought leadership over here,” she said. “I would like GW, both the business school and the university at large, to be at the forefront when anybody is thinking about where to go for expertise and where to go to get upskilled.”
As the semester begins, Yeltekin is excited to get better acquainted with members of the GW community, including students, faculty, staff and alumni. She said one of her favorite aspects of working in higher education is the people.
“Every day you are meeting incredible people, and you’re learning along with them,” Yeltekin said.
Meet Dean Yeltekin
On Sept. 10, Dean Yeltekin will be formally introduced at George Talks Business by President Ellen M. Granberg and will share her vision for the school. George Talks Business is a signature series featuring conversations with leaders on current topics.
On Oct. 21–22, Yeltekin will speak at the GW Business & Policy Forum, which convenes policymakers and industry experts to exchange insights and perspectives on pressing global issues. This year’s theme “The Future of Work is Now” explores the impact of AI on business and society at large.
