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VSB Announces Associate Dean for Graduate and Executive Programs, Michael L. Capella, PhD, Accepts Role of Dean of the Joseph A. Butt, S.J. College of Business at Loyola University New Orleans

Michael L. Capella, PhD

VILLANOVA, Pa., March 11, 2019 – Villanova School of Business (VSB) would like to congratulate Michael L. Capella, PhD, Associate Dean for Graduate and Executive Programs on accepting the role of Dean of the Joseph A. Butts, S.J. College of Business at Loyola University New Orleans, effective June 1, 2019.

Loyola University will benefit from Dr. Capella's leadership in developing and launching new programs while growing student enrollment, as well as his commitment to teaching and research. Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Maria Calzada, PhD recently said, "In our search for this role, we were looking for someone with a clear vision for growth, creativity and entrepreneurship. We are thrilled to have found exactly the person we were looking for in Dr. Capella."

Dr. Capella joined the faculty at Villanova in 2005 after receiving his PhD from Mississippi State University and has served as associate dean since 2012. As associate dean, he has provided leadership and direction for the Villanova School of Business Graduate Programs, serving over 1,000 students with responsibility for the entire student lifecycle.

In his role as associate dean, Dr. Capella and his staff have been responsible for an extensive portfolio of graduate programs across the MBA format (PMBA, EMBA, OMBA, JD/MBA) and specialty masters format (MSF, MAC, KPMG MAC, MSA, MSCM). During his leadership, many positive changes have occurred, include the following:

  • Significantly increased enrollments
  • Increased entrepreneurial revenue
  • Created new program offerings (e.g., Online MBA and Master of Science in Analytics)
  • Led during improved rankings for the various graduate programs (e.g., #13 U.S. News & World Report 2019 Best Online MBA; #2 U.S. News & World Report 2019 Best Online Graduate Business Specialty Program)
  • Organized the Villanova MBA Alumni Association
  • Created the Graduate Business Alumni Advisory Council

In addition to the achievements listed above, Dr. Capella is a well-regarded teacher and scholar. His research interests focus on the intersection of marketing and public policy issues, comprising topics related to advertising effects, including the gamification of advertising, consumer consumption of harmful products, and retail pricing strategies. He has published numerous articles in academic publications including the Journal of Service Research, International Journal of Research in Marketing and Journal of Retailing and serves on the Editorial Review Board at the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, Journal of Advertising, Journal of Consumer Affairs, and International Journal of Advertising. 

“While we will miss Dr. Capella's leadership service, his teaching and his dedication to VSB and Villanova, we are excited that he will continue his leadership role in a faith-based institution that also graduates ethical business leaders who work to make the world a better place,” said Joyce E. A. Russell, PhD, The Helen and William O’Toole Dean of the Villanova School of Business.

The Villanova School of Business (VSB) undergraduate program is ranked #1 in the nation by Bloomberg Businessweek and its online specialty graduate business programs are ranked #2, and its online MBA program is ranked #13 by U.S. News and World Report. VSB has been at the forefront of business education since it was founded in 1922. Serving over 2,700 undergraduate and graduate students, VSB is home to five Centers of Excellence – the Daniel M. DiLella Center for Real Estate, the Elenore and Robert F. Moran Sr. Center for Global Leadership, the Center for Business Analytics, the Center for Marketing & Consumer Insights and the Center for Church Management – with each designed to foster innovative, cross-disciplinary research and applied opportunities for students. VSB is known for academic rigor; creativity and innovation; hands-on and service learning opportunities; a firm grounding in ethics; and an applied education that prepares students to become outstanding leaders and global citizens within the ever-changing, complex, and fast-paced world of business. For more, visit business.villanova.edu.