Alina Chircu, Ph.D., has officially joined The University of New Mexico as dean of the Anderson School of Management. Chircu comes to UNM Anderson from Bentley University in Waltham, Mass., where she served in a number of capacities. Her posts included interim dean of business, associate dean followed by senior associate dean of business for graduate programs and chair of the Information and Process Management department, where she was also a faculty member.
UNM Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs James Holloway praised her expertise and talents. “Dr. Chircu is just the leader we need to take the school to the next level,” said Holloway.
“Her leadership experience will be a terrific match for fostering relationships with our students, staff, faculty and community,” said Kathryn Jacobson, Anderson’s senior associate dean.
Chircu holds a Ph.D. in business administration with a focus on management information systems from the University of Minnesota and bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science and systems modeling and simulation from Politehnica University of Bucharest (Romania). Her teaching and research interests include business process and value chain management, design thinking, digital transformation, and the business value, design, adoption and implementation of transformational technologies such as e-business, e-government, mobile, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, quantum computing, digital twins and the metaverse. She has been a chair, moderator and presenter in academic and practitioner panels and workshops.
“It is an honor to join the Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico,” said Chircu. “I look forward to working with our exceptional faculty, staff and students and collaborating with our dedicated alumni group and business community to support and enhance academic excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship, and economic development.”
Chircu fills the position previously held by Mitzi Montoya, who left in January 2023 to join the University of Utah as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.