Welcome to the WACSB Deans Conference
The annual Western Association of Collegiate Schools of Business Deans Conference will be held at Arizona State University on Sunday, February 22 through Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Associate Deans are also welcome to attend.
About the conference
Join us in sunny Tempe, Arizona, for the annual gathering of WACSB deans to discuss the opportunities and challenges business schools are currently facing. This conference will feature presentations, panel discussions, and sessions with your peers to share best practices and new perspectives. Additionally, it provides the perfect backdrop for networking with other deans from business schools in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
2026 Conference Program Committee
Kurt Dirks
University of Utah
David Eccles School of Business
Ohad Kadan
Arizona State University
W. P. Carey School of Business
Julie Olson-Buchanan
CSU Fresno
Craig School of Business
Lisa Ordóñez
UC San Diego
Rady School of Management
Yunzeng Wang
UC Riverside
School of Business
Conference location
The conference will be hosted by the W. P. Carey School of Business at the Arizona State University Tempe campus in McCord Hall.
We are situated in the thriving metropolitan area of Phoenix, full of things to do and places to see. Our location boasts 300+ sunny days per year. Explore what’s possible in Downtown Tempe and its dynamic Mill Avenue district, located a short walk from the W. P. Carey School.
Hotel Accommodations
A block of rooms has been reserved for the WACSB Deans Conference at the OMNI Tempe hotel through January 23, 2026. Please make hotel reservations before the cutoff date to take advantage of special conference pricing.
>> In addition, Arizona State University has special pricing agreements in place for a number of other hotels in the area. Reserve rooms under ASU discounted rates at other nearby hotels.
Airport Information
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the closest airport, located approximately 5 miles west of Arizona State University’s Tempe campus. It is a short 15-minute ride from the airport to the campus area hotels via Uber or Lyft.
Host School
Arizona State University is a comprehensive public research institution. Through innovation and a commitment to accessibility, ASU has drawn pioneering researchers to its faculty even as it expands opportunities for qualified students, attracting some of the highest-quality students from all 50 states and more than 130 nations.
The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University is the largest and one of the top-ranked public business schools in the United States — serving more than 25,000 students with 60+ degree options, offered on campus and 100% online. W. P. Carey sparks positive change in business and society, by educating students and growing talent to enrich and lead organizations, producing groundbreaking and impactful research, and engaging actively with the communities we serve.
2026 WACSB Deans Conference Schedule
|
Sunday, February 22 |
|
| 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. | Welcome Reception - Omni Hotel | Lucero Rooftop |
|
Monday, February 23 |
(All sessions except where noted will be held in McCord Hall, Room 422)
|
| 7:30 - 8:15 a.m. | Check-in & Breakfast | McCord 450 (Oasis) |
| 8:15 - 8:30 a.m. | Welcome remarks: Ohad Kadan, Arizona State University |
| 8:30 - 9:45 a.m. |
Panel: Leading at a time of change in society and higher ed: What's next for
business schools - short term and long term
Moderator: Lisa Ordóñez,University of California, San Diego
Panelists: Brigitte Madrian, Brigham Young University Greg Mosier, University of Nevada, Reno Julie Olson-Buchanan, California State University, Fresno Dayle Smith, Loyola Marymount University |
| 9:45 - 10:00 a.m. | Break |
| 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. |
Lightning-round presentations session: AI in Business Schools, where are we and what's next? Lead: Sandeep Krishnamurthy, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Presenters: Brigitte Madrian, Brigham Young University David Sprott, Claremont Graduate University Vijay Khatri, University of Colorado, Boulder Rao Unnava, University of California, Davis Sri Sundaram, California State University, Fullerton Mark Bannister, Boise State University Deborah Compeau, Washington State University |
| 11:30 - 11:45 a.m. | Group Photo |
| 11:45 - 12:45 p.m. |
Lunch and sponsor presentation | McCord 450 (Oasis)
Jesus Rosario, Coursera
Steve Shriberg, Eduvantis |
| 12:45 - 1:45 p.m. | Session: AI at the W. P. Carey School of Business: W. P. Carey faculty and staff |
| 1:45 - 2:45 p.m. |
Panel: The future of the MBA degree: Full time, part-time, online,
executive Moderator: Kurt Dirks, University of Utah
Panelists:
Don Gibson, Saint Mary's College of California Karthik Kannan, University of Arizona Ron Ramirez, California State University, San Marcos Rao Unnava, University of California, Davis |
| 2:45 - 3:00 p.m. | Break |
| 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Fireside Chat with ASU President Michael Crow: Current trends in higher education, and where are we going? (Hosted by Ohad Kadan, Arizona State University) |
| 4:30 p.m. | Bus departure to Heard Museum for reception and dinner |
| 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. | Self-guided museum tour and appetizers |
| 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. | Dinner and Fireside Chat with John Byrne, Editor-in-Chief, Poets&Quants |
| 8:30 p.m. | Bus departure to Omni Tempe hotel |
|
Tuesday, February 24 |
|
| 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast | McCord 450 (Oasis) |
| 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. | WACSB Business meeting |
| 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. |
Panel: AACSB updates, changes, and innovations Moderator: Ian Williamson, University of California, Irvine, and Chair-elect of the AACSB Board
Panelists:
Lily Bi, President and CEO of AACSB Tim Mescon, Vice President Americas Growth & Engagement, AACSB Lisa Ordóñez, University of California, San Diego, and member of AACSB Board |
| 10:00 - 10:15 a.m. | Break |
| 10:15 - 11:30 a.m. |
Panel: Societal impact within and by business schools
Moderator: Julie Olson-Buchanan, California State University, Fresno
Panelists: Bruce Blonigen, University of Oregon Charla Griffy-Brown, Arizona State University Brian Tietje, University of San Diego |
| 11:30 - 11:40 a.m. | Conference wrap-up |
| 11:45 - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch | McCord 450 (Oasis) |
| 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. | Optional visit to Dreamscape Learn AR/VR experience |