UF announces new dean of Warrington College of Business

A four-year search for a new dean at the Warrington College of Business has come to a close.

Sabyasachi 'Saby' Mitra, 57, will be the new dean starting Aug. 1, replacing current dean John Kraft. Mitra has worked as the associate dean for faculty and research since July at the Georgia Institute of Technology Scheller College of Business, a top 5 public university according to the U.S. News and World Report. He currently holds the TR Williams-Wells Fargo Professorship, which is a Georgia Tech professorship appointed by the dean.

UF began its search for a new dean in August 2016 and the search committee planned to have a new dean for 2017. 

UF spokesperson Steve Orlando said the hire was announced Tuesday. He will be getting a $525,000 annual salary, compared to his salary of more than $408,000 at Georgia Tech.

Mitra said he is excited to begin his new position because he was amazed by the committed staff and alumni at Warrington. He believes its commitment to education is a key element for success.

“I truly feel that Warrington College is on its way to becoming one of the best business schools in the country,” Mitra said. “I’m just honored and excited to be part of that future.”

Mitra was a faculty director for the executive master’s in business administration program at Georgia Tech from 2007 to 2013. He was senior associate dean of programs from July 2015 to June 2020, and then became Warrington’s associate dean in July. His last day at Georgia Tech is July 31, he said. 

He said he will start his role as dean by listening to what the students and faculty want to see improve. This collaborative effort will take longer, but he said it will be more sustainable for future success.

“I truly believe that we exist because of students,” Mitra said. “So everything I do, I will try hard to keep that in mind.”

Contact Stephany Matat at smatat@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @StephanyMatat. 

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