After years in the economics classroom, longtime Carnegie Mellon University professor Laurence Ales is now running the show at the Tepper School of Business. He stepped in as interim dean on July 1 as Dean Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou prepares to return to the faculty and the university pauses its external search for a permanent successor. Ales is expected to guide the school through the summer and into the fall search cycle, providing continuity for students, faculty and corporate partners during the handoff.
In a message to campus, Provost James H. Garrett Jr. said Ales “agreed to serve as interim dean” effective July 1 and that the global search would be paused over the summer and resumed with additional candidates in the fall, according to Carnegie Mellon University. The provost pointed to Ales’ recent service as senior associate dean for education and his role co-chairing the search committee as key reasons for turning to a familiar face. The announcement also noted that Ales’ familiarity with Tepper’s 2024–2030 strategic plan, Building the Intelligent Future, is expected to be an asset during the interim period.
Background and scholarship
Ales has taught at Tepper since 2008 and, as reported by the Pittsburgh Business Times, brings nearly 20 years of experience as an economics professor and administrator. According to Ales’ CV, he earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Minnesota and has published on optimal taxation and the labor impacts of technological change. He has taught across undergraduate, MBA and Ph.D. programs and most recently served as senior associate dean for education, overseeing curricular initiatives and graduate training.
What he will oversee
As interim dean, Ales is tasked with keeping Tepper’s academic programs, industry partnerships and faculty affairs on track while the search is on hold. That includes overseeing curriculum delivery for upcoming terms, supporting research initiatives tied to AI and analytics, and maintaining relationships with corporate partners who recruit Tepper graduates. The assignment may sound straightforward on paper, but campus leaders say the priority is to keep operations steady so a permanent dean can be chosen from a strong pool in the fall.
Next steps for the school
The university plans to resume the dean search in the fall, with Ales handling day-to-day leadership and preparing the school for a permanent appointment in the meantime. For now, Tepper students and employers are being told to expect business-as-usual instruction and recruiting, with Ales serving as a familiar internal steward during the transition.
