Brooklyn College on Tuesday named Shalei V. K. Simms, Ph.D., as the new Dean of the Murray Koppelman School of Business, effective July 1, 2026.
Simms currently serves as Dean of the School of Business at SUNY Old Westbury, where she leads an AACSB-accredited school serving one of the most diverse student populations in the SUNY system. A tenured faculty member and accomplished academic administrator, she brings extensive experience in business education, accreditation, faculty development, fundraising, and student success at public, mission-driven institutions.
“Brooklyn College has a powerful legacy as a driver of opportunity and social mobility,” Simms said in a statement. “I am honored to join this extraordinary institution and look forward to working with faculty, students, staff, alumni, and partners to strengthen academic excellence, expand innovation, and ensure that Koppelman graduates are prepared to lead with skill, integrity and purpose.”
A nationally recognized leader in innovative program development, Simms has spearheaded initiatives in online learning and launched an AI Across the Curriculum effort to ensure students graduate with the ethical and technological competencies required in a rapidly evolving business landscape. She has also secured millions of dollars in public and private funding to support high-impact practices, retention, and graduation outcomes for first-generation and high-need students, college officials said.
Prior to her deanship, Simms served as assistant vice president for Academic Affairs at SUNY Old Westbury, where she supported academic planning and accreditation across multiple schools and departments, managed multi-million-dollar budgets, and oversaw federally and state-funded student success initiatives. Her earlier roles include director of Graduate Programs and faculty appointments at SUNY Old Westbury, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Rutgers University, and the University of Connecticut.
Simms holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Management from Rutgers Business School and is an internationally published scholar whose research focuses on social identity, decision-making, entrepreneurship, and ethical leadership. She has received numerous honors for her scholarship and professional leadership and serves on several nonprofit and financial institution boards.
“Dean Shalei V. K. Simms’ experience at a public, AACSB-accredited business school made her a strong choice to lead the Koppelman School of Business,” said Michelle J. Anderson, president of Brooklyn College. “Her commitment to access, excellence, and social mobility also aligns with our mission.”
Simms succeeds Interim Dean James Lynch.
