Praveen Aggarwal, PhD, has accepted the position of dean of the Labovitz School of Business and Economics (LSBE) at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), pending final approval from the Board of Regents at the upcoming October meeting. He has been serving in the interim role since June 2021.

“I am so pleased that Dr. Praveen Aggarwal has agreed to serve as LSBE’s permanent dean,” Rebecca Ropers, UMD’s executive vice chancellor and provost, said. “Dr. Aggarwal is uniquely poised for this role in every way. A true collaborator, educator, innovator, problem-solver, and leader, our institution is so fortunate that he will be a partner in leading LSBE and UMD into our next chapter.”

In the four years he’s served as interim dean, Aggarwal has led LSBE through a period of growth and innovation—strengthening industry partnerships, advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives, supporting faculty development, securing significant philanthropic support to further the school’s mission, and ensuring a glowing assessment through the recent AACSB re-accreditation. 

“I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me to serve as dean of the Labovitz School of Business and Economics,” Praveen Aggarwal, dean of the Labovitz School of Business and Economics, said. “Serving in an interim capacity over the past few years, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners, and I am excited to continue building on that strong foundation. I am committed to advancing LSBE’s mission, strengthening our impact, and preparing our students to lead with integrity in a rapidly changing world.”

Before coming to UMD, Aggarwal earned two master’s degrees from universities in India and a Ph.D. in Marketing from Syracuse University. He served as a senior executive in the food industry before transitioning to academia. Since joining UMD in 1998, he has positively contributed to the campus through teaching, research, service, and leadership.

Aggarwal has authored more than a hundred scholarly and trade publications and earned numerous teaching, service, and research awards, including the Horace T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education. Prior to becoming interim dean in the summer of 2021, he was associate dean for nine years and the head of both the Management Studies and Marketing departments.

A strong advocate of experiential learning and the power of partnerships, he has led efforts to introduce industry-relevant majors, promote interdisciplinary collaborations, and chart a roadmap for our internationalization efforts. Under his leadership, LSBE has continued to expand its impact on students, the community, and the region.

Aggarwal’s appointment comes as LSBE marks its 50th anniversary as an official collegiate unit of UMD. The 1974–75 school year was the first in which the then-School of Business and Economics (SBE) operated as a full-fledged business school within the University. A generous gift from Joel and Sharon Labovitz in 2002 supported the construction of a new building, at which point the school was renamed the Labovitz School of Business and Economics, which it remains today. 

A 50th anniversary celebration, with current and former faculty and staff, alumni, and more, was held on Thursday, September 25, in UMD’s Kirby Ballroom. 

Inset: Praveen Aggarwal, PhD, photographed in the LSBE atrium at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD). Header image: UMD's Labovitz School of Business and Economics, pictured, was ranked #2 Best Business School in Minnesota by U.S. News & World Report 2025.