Pia Gupta Appointed Associate Dean of Undergraduate Student Success for CBA
Following a rigorous national search, Pia Gupta has been appointed as the new associate dean of undergraduate student success for the College of Business Administration at Cal Poly Pomona.
In an announcement to the campus, Dean Sandeep Krishnamurthy said, “This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the college — one focused on empowering our students to connect with prosperous economic futures through purposeful, student-focused support. As associate dean, Dr. Gupta will lead initiatives that strengthen student success and enhance academic outcomes across our programs.”
Gupta brings more than two decades of distinguished leadership in higher education. Most recently, she was professor and chair of the Department of Finance at Cal State Long Beach, where she has guided a dynamic department since 2019. Under her leadership, the department expanded academic offerings, elevated student engagement and improved hiring and retention practices.
Her student-centered approach is evident in her work on graduation initiatives, early alert systems and academic advising reforms — efforts that have directly improved student performance and persistence. She played a pivotal role in AACSB accreditation efforts, contributing to three successful re-accreditation cycles at CSULB through strategic planning, report writing and peer review engagement.
A champion of experiential learning, Gupta co-founded CSULB’s Finance Symposium — now a statewide platform connecting students and professionals — and was instrumental in launching the university’s STEM-designated Master of Financial Analytics program.
Her research has been published in leading finance journals such as the “Journal of Corporate Finance,” “Journal of Business Finance and Accounting” and “Managerial Finance.” Her scholarship explores corporate governance, financial markets and pedagogical innovation.
Gupta has served as president of the Western Decision Sciences Institute and held leadership roles in nonprofit organizations that support global education and underserved communities.
“I’m thrilled by the opportunity to join Cal Poly Pomona, where the energy of amazing students, the hands-on Polytechnic "learn by doing" model, industry connections and the caliber of distinguished faculty create an ideal environment for innovation and impact,” said Gupta. “As Associate Dean for Student Success, I see my role as a collaborative and student-centered leader who brings national best practices to our shared work — partnering with faculty, staff, and students to cultivate a culture of excellence and inclusion. To advance undergraduate student success, I aim to help build a streamlined and well-organized operation that supports every student’s journey. Together, we can create meaningful changes that make a lasting difference in the lives of our students.”