Prominent dean David Schmittlein, responsible for elevating MIT Sloan School to its current status, passes away at 69 years old.
MIT professor and former dean of the Sloan School of Management, David Schmittlein, passed away on March 13, following a lengthy illness. He was 69.
Schmittlein served as the John C. Head III Dean of MIT Sloan from 2007 to 2024. During his 17-year tenure, he navigated the school through financial crises, global pandemics, and numerous milestones, transforming it into a leading management institution.
Under Schmittlein's leadership, MIT Sloan introduced new degree programs, redesigned its academic program portfolio, and expanded its executive offerings. He also focused on enhancing alumni engagement, increasing philanthropic support, expanding the faculty, overseeing campus capital projects, and opening international programs. A centennial celebration for Course 15 - MIT's designation for management - was champions by Schmittlein, as was a branding and marketing effort that solidified MIT Sloan's reputation as a hub for innovative, open-minded, and grounded leaders.
Andrew W. Lo, a professor of finance, noted that Schmittlein elevated MIT Sloan's standing, increasing its visibility internationally and expanding its footprint in terms of research, education, and outreach.
In her letter to the MIT community, President Sally Kornbluth acknowledged Schmittlein's contributions to the school's reputation and impact on a global scale. She added that his counsel during their brief shared tenure was invaluable.
Georgia Perakis, who served as the interim dean after Schmittlein stepped down last year, praised Schmittlein as an exceptional leader, mentor, teacher, and friend. She highlighted how he took MIT Sloan to new heights under his leadership.
Before joining MIT Sloan, Schmittlein spent 27 years at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, serving as a professor of marketing and deputy dean. Appointed as the eighth dean of MIT Sloan in 2007, he viewed his position as a homecoming.
Schmittlein, who grew up in Northampton, Massachusetts, and was the oldest of six siblings, graduated from Brown University with a BA in mathematics and earned an MPhil in business and a PhD in marketing from Columbia University.
Schmittlein guided MIT Sloan through the global financial crisis of 2007-09, collaborating with the school's finance faculty to launch the Master of Finance degree program in 2008. Nobel laureate Robert C. Merton, who had previously decamped to Harvard University, returned to MIT Sloan in 2010 to become involved in the program.
Under Schmittlein's guidance, MIT Sloan expanded its executive and other degree programs, including the full-time MIT Sloan Fellows MBA, the 20-month part-time MIT Executive MBA, the Master of Science in Management Studies program, and the MIT Sloan Master of Business Analytics program.
Schmittlein's tenure also saw an emphasis on integrating MIT Sloan with the university, bringing together teaching programs, research programs, and faculty to create a unique environment that set the school apart from its peers.
Ezra W. Zuckerman Sivan, a professor at MIT Sloan, noted that Schmittlein took the school to new heights, transforming it from a well-respected institution to a leading global force in management education. He added that Schmittlein saw potential in others before they saw it in themselves, including Zuckerman Sivan himself.
During his tenure, Schmittlein invested in faculty compensation, resulting in the growth of the MIT Sloan faculty count to 112. He also oversaw several capital projects, including the renovation of landmark historic buildings E60 and E52.
Schmittlein's international collaborations, which included the MIT Sloan Latin America Office, the Asia School of Business, and the MIT Sloan Office for Southeast Asian Nations, increased the school's visibility and benefited MIT Sloan students by offering them the opportunity to work with global business leaders.
Following Schmittlein's passing, MIT Sloan is mourning the loss of a transformational leader who left a lasting impact on the institution. Plans for a future celebration of his life are being developed. To learn more about his life and contributions, visit his online obituary.
- In his 17-year tenure as John C. Head III Dean of MIT Sloan, David Schmittlein navigated the school through diverse challenges, transforming it into a leading management institution.
- Under Schmittlein's leadership, MIT Sloan introduced new degree programs and redesigned its academic offerings, expanding its executive offerings as well.
- Schmittlein focused on enhancing alumni engagement, increasing philanthropic support, and expanding the faculty during his time at MIT Sloan.
- He oversaw campus capital projects and opened international programs, including the MIT Sloan Latin America Office, the Asia School of Business, and the MIT Sloan Office for Southeast Asian Nations.
- A centennial celebration for Course 15 - MIT's designation for management - was champions by Schmittlein, as was a branding and marketing effort that solidified MIT Sloan's reputation.
- Andrew W. Lo, a professor of finance, noted that Schmittlein elevated MIT Sloan's standing, increasing its visibility internationally and expanding its footprint in terms of research, education, and outreach.
- Georgia Perakis, who served as the interim dean after Schmittlein stepped down last year, praised Schmittlein as an exceptional leader, mentor, teacher, and friend.
- Prior to joining MIT Sloan, Schmittlein spent 27 years at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, serving as a professor of marketing and deputy dean.
- Schmittlein guided MIT Sloan through the global financial crisis of 2007-09, collaborating with the school's finance faculty to launch the Master of Finance degree program in 2008.
- During his tenure, Schmittlein invested in faculty compensation, resulting in the growth of the MIT Sloan faculty count to 112.
- He oversaw several capital projects, including the renovation of landmark historic buildings E60 and E52.
- Schmittlein's international collaborations benefited MIT Sloan students by offering them the opportunity to work with global business leaders.
- Following Schmittlein's passing, MIT Sloan is mourning the loss of a transformational leader who left a lasting impact on the institution. Plans for a future celebration of his life are being developed. To learn more about his life and contributions, visit his online obituary.
