Kristopher T. Sullivan has been promoted to assistant dean of the graduate school at Bryant University. In his new role, he will develop enrollment strategies for the M.S. in taxation and new master of professional accountancy programs, and develop specialized MBA programs for corporate clients.
Sullivan joined Bryant in 1998 as director of graduate studies; he also teaches marketing, part-time. He earned his a B.A. and MBA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
PBN: What are your priorities in enrollment?
SULLIVAN: Recruiting well-qualified graduate students is our top priority. I work with talented people from many university departments to develop a comprehensive recruitment strategy that includes outreach to students and companies throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut and southeastern Massachusetts.
PBN: How big of a part of Bryant are graduate programs?
SULLIVAN: The graduate programs play an important role in the university’s strategic plan and impact Bryant’s reputation. Bryant currently has the largest AACSB-accredited MBA program in this market, and we are continuously looking to improve the quality of our student body. … We continue to assess the needs of industry and where there is a demand, develop programs to meet this demand. An example is the addition of the master of professional accountancy program, which will launch this summer.
PBN: What will the specialized MBA programs for corporate clients entail?
SULLIVAN: First, within the framework of our standard MBA curriculum, faculty members work with our client to develop case studies and in-class activities tailored to our client’s industry. Second, students participate at the client location three times during the semester. The remainder of the program is completed in real time over the Internet.
Graduate business education has changed in recent years … from the opportunities presented by globalization to the retirement of senior executives as baby boomers leave the workplace. Mid-career people … want high-quality, rigorous programs that will prepare them for leadership.
