Jennifer Edmonds to Lead GCU School of Business and Digital Media

On Aug 1, 2019

Jennifer Edmonds, PhD, is the new dean of the Georgian Court University School of Business and Digital Media in Lakewood.

She most recently served as associate dean and director of the MBA program of the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership at Wilkes University and brings nearly two decades of business leadership to her role at Georgian Court.

“Dr. Edmonds is innovative and creative in her approach to ensuring students and faculty succeed,” said Interim Provost Janice Warner, PhD.

“She also brings an extraordinary commitment to detail and data—likely because of her background as a chemical engineer,” said Dr. Warner. “In addition, she is eager to grow our business and digital media programs in ways that make a big difference for GCU graduates and for employers.”

Beyond business leadership, Dr. Edmonds brings experience in strategic planning, institutional assessment, diversity/multicultural leadership, and student retention.

As a faculty member, she has taught courses in statistics and operations management, and management science and information systems. She is also a presenter and avid researcher on many topics, including employee motivation, women’s leadership in business, global commerce, and digital instruction.

Dr. Edmonds was attracted to Georgian Court, in part, because of the unique mix of programs offered by the GCU School of Business and Digital Media. She was intrigued by its structure, where students pursue traditional business majors like accounting and business administration while others seek degrees in graphic design and multimedia or digital communication.

There is also the graduate program, the M.A, which allows students who majored in many disciplines to develop business skills.

The university’s size, with more than 2,400 students, was a draw for Dr. Edmonds. So were the talented faculty, many of whom conduct research with undergraduate and MBA students.

“I have an affinity for smaller schools where there is a commitment to excellence in teaching, and that’s my strength,” she said.

“Ultimately, what we do in the School of Business and Digital Media—and beyond—is all about making connections. The reality is that everybody integrates media and manages relationships at work,” she said. “It’s a logical necessity to understand how people and businesses connect to everything else. That’s where the exciting part comes in,” she said. “It’s about understanding how those connections can almost always lead to something new and something better.”

Dr. Edmonds earned her doctoral degree in management science and her MBA at Rutgers University. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. She lives in Howell with her family.

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