Frank Named Business School Dean

Posted on June 15, 2023

A Carolina alumna who is currently at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business has been chosen as the new dean of the Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Mary Margaret Frank ’92 (’92 MAC, ’99 PhD), senior associate dean for faculty development at Darden, plans to join Kenan-Flagler Aug. 15. She will succeed Jennifer Conrad, who has served as interim dean since September 2022 following the abrupt resignation of Doug Shackelford ’80.

A joint statement from Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and Provost Chris Clemens said Frank has distinguished herself as an exceptional leader with a deep understanding of the opportunities at Kenan-Flagler.

“Since graduating, she has continued her involvement with the school by teaching in the Master of Accounting program, collaborating with PhD students and faculty on research and serving as an academic fellow to the UNC Tax Center,” the statement read. “She brings a demonstrated passion and understanding of the positive impact business can have on communities.”

At Darden, Frank is the John Tyler Professor of business administration and has been responsible for designing, coordinating and managing recruitment and development of more than 100 tenure- and nontenure-track faculty. She also created a faculty development plan that aligned the school’s mission and strategy, leading efforts to address the impact of the pandemic on faculty and create new channels for connectivity across the school.

Frank’s academic interests include the integration of business principles and public policy objectives, cross-sector collaboration and leadership, and sustainable investing.

Before joining the Darden faculty in 2002, Frank taught at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. She also served for more than a decade on the board of directors and led the audit committee of a small, publicly traded company with a mission to empower women to protect their health.

“It is an honor to return to UNC Kenan-Flagler, where I felt valued as a student and launched my career,” Frank said in a prepared statement. “UNC Kenan-Flagler has established a world-renowned portfolio of academic programs and research, and I welcome the opportunity to continue to innovate with the community of accomplished scholars, passionate educators, dedicated staff, talented students and loyal alumni, where together I am confident we can create positive, sustainable impact in the state and around the world.”