Laurence Ales Named Interim Dean of the Tepper School of Business

After nearly two decades of serving the Tepper School of Business as an educator, researcher, and academic leader, Laurence Ales has been appointed Interim Dean, effective July 1, 2026.

Ales has served on the faculty since 2008 and most recently served as Senior Associate Dean for Education, where he has worked closely with faculty and staff to strengthen the school's educational programs and enhance the student experience across its degree offerings. His leadership has helped advance initiatives that support the Tepper School's continued growth and impact.

A member of the Tepper School Executive Committee, he has also played a key leadership role in advancing the school's strategic priorities and will provide continuity and continued momentum for the school.

"The Tepper School has been my professional home for the last 18 years, and it is a great honor to serve as Interim Dean," said Ales. "The school is in an excellent position to seize the opportunities offered by a rapidly transforming landscape in business and higher education. In the months ahead, it will be important for all of us to build on our momentum and sustain the school's progress.”

Ales succeeds Dean Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou, who concluded her six-year tenure and will return to the faculty in the 2027-28 Academic Year. As Interim Dean, Ales will continue to build on the school's progress while advancing its commitment to academic excellence, impactful research, and preparing the next generation of business leaders.

“During my time at the Tepper School, in many different roles, I have seen firsthand the dedication and passion that our faculty, staff, and students bring to their daily work,” Ales said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the members of this community, and I am excited to see what comes next for the school.”

Ales is also a Professor of Economics. Over the course of his career, he has taught across the Ph.D. MBA, undergraduate, and executive education programs, most recently focusing on MBA courses and executive education leadership programs related to global economics. His research examines the design of tax policy and the labor implications of technological change and has been published in leading journals, including Econometrica, the American Economic Review, and the Journal of Economic Theory.

Ales earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor's degree in Physics from the University of Rome Tor Vergata. He also worked as a research analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

Ales will serve as Interim Dean while Carnegie Mellon University continues to conduct a search for the Tepper School's next dean.

The Tepper School of Business also announced two leadership appointments within the Dean's Office to support continuity and advance the school's strategic priorities. Oliver Hahl, professor of Organizational Theory, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship, has been appointed Senior Associate Dean for Education after serving as Associate Dean for Master's Programs since July 2025. In his new role, Hahl will oversee the school's academic programs and educational initiatives.

Tim Derdenger, associate professor of Marketing and Strategy, has been appointed Associate Dean for Master's Programs. Derdenger, who has led the Technology Track, will oversee the Tepper School's portfolio of master's programs and continue supporting graduate education initiatives.