Wharton selects new business development dean

The Wharton School appointed Kathleen McClave as associate dean for Communications and Business Development last week. The position is a new one, aimed at coordinating between administrative and academic departments, developing global interaction with the business world and allocating resources such as money and especially faculty time. "Ms. McClave brings a wealth of professional experience as well as an extensive working knowledge of the Wharton School to her new role," Wharton Dean Patrick Harker said of the Wharton MBA graduate. In 1993, McClave -- who is now the only female in a Wharton dean position -- was appointed managing director of Wharton's Financial Institutions Center, where she organized research centered around a $6.2 million grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. For the past four years, McClave has continued to increase her knowledge of the business arena by working for insurance firm Tillinghast-Towers Perrin but now has decided to return to her alma mater. "It was clearly a choice," McClave said in regard to her coming to Wharton. For McClave, it was "the right time to do something different in [her] life." Now, as an associate dean, McClave has several goals for Wharton, including having "Wharton to stay number one." To maintain Wharton's prestigious status, McClave said, she hopes to make people all over the world aware of the opportunities offered by Wharton including faculty and the vast number of courses offered. Furthermore, McClave noted that she plans to assist Harker in his efforts to reinvent Wharton, such as transforming Wharton into a "learner-based" environment rather than a "teacher-centered one," in which undergraduates and alumni will continue to learn from Wharton for a lifetime. McClave said she believes this effort to reinvent Wharton is both a "challenging and wonderful vision." So far, McClave said she has felt at home in her new position. McClave has advice for other females hoping to make it big in the business world. First, it's important to "start from the bottom line, contribute to that bottom line and understand" your position. Second, you've got "to be really good, and keep improving your skills." McClave noted that what matters is your present situation and success. And finally, she stressed the importance of having a network of colleagues and mentors, stating that "you must invest" in this network of relationships, and in turn, "have them invest in you." Overall, with the variety of events happening at Wharton each day, Harker is "delighted that [McClave] will be providing leadership for this very significant new division."

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