Gareth James is heading back to Los Angeles, this time to run the show at UCLA Anderson School of Management. The New Zealand-born statistician will become dean on July 1, 2026, returning to Southern California after three years at the helm of Emory University's Goizueta Business School. A coauthor of the influential textbook An Introduction to Statistical Learning, James arrives with a reputation for aggressive faculty recruitment, new academic programs and climbing rankings.
"I have admired UCLA Anderson for almost three decades and am honored and energized to join the school as its next dean," James said. As reported by UCLA Newsroom, he will step into the role on July 1, succeeding Margaret Shih, who has been serving as interim dean since July 2025. The university highlighted his expertise in statistics, data science and machine learning as a key factor in the decision.
At Emory, James presided over a growth spurt that business schools like to brag about but rarely hit. He helped launch three new degree programs, established two research centers and recruited 22 new full time faculty members while enrollment grew by roughly 35%. Emory Business noted those gains along with an improved MBA ranking during his tenure. James, who became Goizueta's dean in July 2022, said he plans to remain in that post through the spring semester before heading west to UCLA.
Back To L.A., With USC Roots
For Los Angeles business-school insiders, James is hardly a new face. He spent nearly 25 years on the data sciences and operations faculty at USC Marshall, where he held the E. Morgan Stanley Chair in Business Administration and cycled through senior leadership roles, including deputy dean and interim dean. That local pedigree, paired with his national profile in statistical learning, turns the UCLA appointment into a homecoming of sorts. His Goizueta Business School bio points to awards for teaching, mentorship and research impact that helped build his academic reputation.
A Data Driven Play For Anderson
UCLA officials are casting James as the right leader to tighten Anderson's ties to the region's tech scene, Hollywood and the startup crowd, while also boosting analytics across the curriculum. He is coauthor of StatLearning.com's An Introduction to Statistical Learning, a textbook that shows up in statistics and machine learning courses around the world. In a recent campus Q&A, he talked about working closely with faculty, alumni and industry partners to shape Anderson's next chapter.
Leadership Transition
James will inherit a school that has been under interim leadership since 2025. Margaret Shih has served as interim dean since July of that year, following Antonio Bernardo's decision to step down from the full time role last year, as reported by the Los Angeles Business Journal. UCLA's announcement credited the search committee for the appointment and emphasized stability in Anderson's mission and programs as the transition unfolds.
Early campus reaction has been cautiously optimistic. Students and faculty told local reporters they are looking for more investment in analytics and real-world industry connections, while also wanting reassurance that existing programs and donor relationships will stay on track during the changeover. In a May interview with the Daily Bruin, James underscored collaboration and alumni engagement as top priorities as he prepares to relocate to Westwood this summer.
