Texas Wesleyan University has named Sameer Vaidya, Ph.D. as the next dean of the School of Business Administration. Vaidya has been serving as the interim dean since January 2020 after Dr. Hector Quintanilla was named Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. Quintanilla served as the Dean of the School of Business Administration since fall 2006.

“I’m extremely pleased to call Dr. Vaidya our newest dean,” said Texas Wesleyan University President Fredrick G. Slabach. “His ongoing commitment to the University and our mission makes him the ideal person to lead our school of business administration into the future. Since 2004 when he joined Texas Wesleyan as an Associate Professor of Management, he has helped establish our business school’s tradition of excellence and has the vision to prepare our students for a lifetime of impact in the business world.”

“Texas Wesleyan University’s School of Business Administration has a unique blend of highly qualified faculty, small classes and a diverse student body,” Vaidya said. “Having served on the TXWES faculty, it is an honor to serve in the dean’s role at a place that has had such a profound impact on my approach to teaching, research and academic leadership.”

The School of Business Dean search committee unanimously recommended that Dr. Vaidya should be offered the position after conducting a national search of numerous highly qualified candidates. What stood out most about Dr. Vaidya was his collegiality and advocacy for Texas Wesleyan's students, faculty and staff.

The School of Business faculty witnessed the co-leadership of Dr. Vaidya's vision, problem-solving, tireless work ethic and dedication to achieving the pinnacle of business school accreditation — the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). During the arduous AACSB process, Dr. Vaidya played a pivotal role in stewarding faculty scholarship, teaching assessment and program evaluation.

"I look forward to working with Dr. Vaidya's leadership in creating a student-centered learning environment focusing on teaching excellence informed by scholarly activities and service well into the twenty-first century," said Dr. Thomas J. Bell III, professor of business administration and the search committee chair.

“With 15 years of administrative service, Dr. Vaidya has earned the trust of the students and faculty to continue growing the School of Business Administration’s reputation of excellence,” said Texas Wesleyan University Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Hector Quintanilla. “The University is fortunate to have his leadership and academic distinction. We are excited as we look to the future of our business administration programs.”

Dr. Vaidya earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Advanced Cost Accounting from the University of Pune, India, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas – Pan America and a Doctorate in Management and International Business from the University of Texas – Pan America.

Along with Dr. Vaidya being appointed the Dean of the School of Business Administration, Dr. Tommy Nichols was appointed as the Associate Dean of the School of Business, and Stephanie Martinez was hired as the new Academic Services Coordinator to replace Shana Hellinger who was appointed as the MBA Director.