Dr. Sumantra Sengupta has been appointed as the Founding Dean of the newly established Rio Grande College of Business at Sul Ross State University, marking a significant milestone for the university’s academic expansion. The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the creation of the College of Business in February 2023, paving the way for the development of innovative business programs across Sul Ross State’s campuses.
Dr. Sengupta brings 33 years of experience as an educator, entrepreneur, and general manager, having successfully grown and streamlined global businesses and academic units from their inception. Based in Eagle Pass, he will lead the new college, which aims to enhance the university’s business programs and extend its reach to a global audience.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Sengupta, the new dean of the Rio Grande College of Business. With decades of experience in higher education administration and the private sector, he is a visionary and dynamic leader with experience building and growing business programs and international markets,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Bernie Cantens. “We are thrilled to have him join our academic administration and look forward to working with him to advance our mission and to grow our business programs at all our campuses.”
Prior to joining Sul Ross State, Dr. Sengupta served as the Dean of the School of Business and Management at City University of Seattle. During his tenure, he managed all undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, championed the development of online and hybrid business programs, and fostered corporate partnerships to enhance enrollment and student success. He also led the school through a specialized reaccreditation process.
Dr. Sengupta transitioned to academia in 2016 after a distinguished 24-year career in the private sector, where he held leadership roles such as Vice President and Partner at Capgemini Ernst and Young LLC, Vice President at Hitachi Consulting, and Senior Executive Advisor with Booz Allen Hamilton. He co-founded an advisory and turnaround firm in 2010, where he conducted global restructurings and served as Group President for a billion-dollar agriculture production and trading company with operations in 11 countries.
Throughout his career, Dr. Sengupta has consulted for Fortune 1000 companies worldwide, with clients spanning the U.S., Mexico, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. He has also authored multiple books and articles, including his latest publication, Resilient Value Chains: How Companies Can Win in Uncertain Times, released in 2023.
Dr. Sengupta holds a PhD and a Master of Arts degree in Business Administration from the Max M. Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, as well as a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from Ohio University.
Expressing his enthusiasm for his new role, Dr. Sengupta stated, “I am excited to join SRSU at a pivotal time of innovation and growth as the Founding Dean for an all campus combined RGC College of Business. The rich heritage of the university, coupled with the potential to serve students globally promises to be an exciting journey. I thank Provost Bernie Cantens and President Carlos Hernandez for their support in this journey.”
For more information, Dr. Sengupta can be reached at sumantra.sengupta@sulross.edu.
