Welcome to our latest Bryan Business Report, highlighting our achievements from the past year. In my new role as the Interim Dean, my first thought and instinct turns to our retiring Dean, Dr. McRae “Mac” Banks, who has successfully led our school to newer and greater heights over the past 13 years. For all that you have done for us, Mac, and the stellar legacy you leave behind, a BIG thanks from all of us!

As you may expect me to, I could begin by mentioning the stellar reputation of the Bryan School, as reflected in the rankings we have received; from being ranked the No. 1 part-time MBA in North Carolina by Fortune magazine or the No. 1 online undergraduate business program in North Carolina by U.S. News & World Report. However, such recognition by the world is merely the expected outcome of the one special quality that distinguishes us: our steadfast dedication to student success. It is an article of pride for us that as a business school, 49% of our undergraduate students are eligible for Federal Pell Grants. What makes us even more proud is the return on the education we provide, with average starting salaries of $56,800 and $81,900 for our graduating undergraduate and graduate students, respectively.

If there was ever an example of a transformative institution, it would be the Bryan School. How do we achieve the above results? Part of that recipe involves our faculty members, dedicated teacher-scholars who ensure the latest and the greatest in business education is brought to our students by excelling in their own professional pursuits as researchers and practitioners. These talented individuals consistently publish high-quality, peer-reviewed articles in world-leading journals. According to a Stanford University list published in 2023, five of our own faculty members were among the top 2% most-cited researchers in the world.

But no foreword to our annual report would be considered complete without setting the stage for the real-life stories of inspiration and triumph that follow. As you read this year’s Bryan Business Report, you will not have to squint to look beyond the flashing red carpet cameras, sparkling ski slopes, or polish of generative artificial intelligence to see that excellence comes in many forms, whether it is the work of our students, alumni, faculty, or staff. Excellence can come from anywhere – and that, in a nutshell, is what we do here. We truly believe that anyone can belong at Bryan.

Through it all, I hope you come away from this year’s magazine as impressed as I am about what we do. All I request is for you to spread the word – that when we say your career is our business, we put tangible resources toward helping our students get to where they want to go.

Warm regards,