Sumantra Sengupta, PhD, is the Founding Dean of the new Rio Grande College of Business at Sul Ross State University.
The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the creation of the College of Business at their February 2023 meeting.
Dr. Sengupta, an educator, entrepreneur and general manager with 33 years of experience in growing and streamlining global businesses and academic units from inception, will be based in Eagle Pass.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Sengupta, the new dean of the Rio Grande College of Business. With decades of experience in higher education administration and the private sector, he is a visionary and dynamic leader with experience building and growing business programs and international markets,” Executive Vice President and Provost Bernie Cantens said in a news release. “We are thrilled to have him join our academic administration and look forward to working with him to advance our mission and to grow our business programs at all our campuses.”
Before coming to Sul Ross State, Dr. Sengupta served as the Dean of the School of Business and Management at City University of Seattle where he was responsible for managing all undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. During his tenure there, he championed the innovation and development of online and hybrid undergraduate and graduate business programs, led the specialized reaccreditation program, and enabled corporate partnerships to help boost enrollment and position the school and students for success. Prior to City University, he served as assistant dean and as a member of the faculty at the School of Management at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.
Dr. Sengupta transitioned to higher education in 2016 after spending 24 years in the private sector where he held positions such as Vice President and Partner at Capgemini Ernst and Young LLC, Vice President at Hitachi Consulting, and as Senior Executive Advisor with Booz Allen Hamilton. He began his professional career with the Kraft Foods Group. In 2010, he co-founded an advisory and turnaround firm, and conducted global restructurings and turnarounds while serving as Group President for a billion dollar diversified agriculture production and trading company with 2,500 associates and operations in 11 countries.
He has consulted for F1000 companies across the globe and has served clients in the U.S., Mexico, Middle East, North and South Africa as well as various parts of Southeast Asia.
Dr. Sengupta has authored multiple books and articles over the years. His latest book, published in 2023, is titled “Resilient Value Chains: How Companies Can Win in Uncertain Times.” He is a member of the Harvard Business Review advisory council, an opt-in research community of business professionals.
He holds a PhD and a Master of Arts degree in Business Administration from the Max. M. Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, and a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from Ohio University.
“I am excited to join SRSU at a pivotal time of innovation and growth as the Founding Dean for an all campus combined RGC College of Business,” Dr. Sengupta said in the release. “The rich heritage of the university, coupled with the potential to serve students globally promises to be an exciting journey. I thank Provost Bernie Cantens and President Carlos Hernandez for their support in this journey.”
For more information, email [email protected].
