Stephanie Johnson
University of Redlands, 909-748-8075
Welcoming our New School of Business & Society Dean Dr. Jennifer Madden
May 27, 2025
To: University Community
Date: May 27, 2025
From: Adrienne McCormick, Provost
Subject: Welcoming our New School of Business & Society Dean Dr. Jennifer Madden
I am happy to announce that Dr. Jennifer Madden will join the University of Redlands as the H. Jess and Donna Colton Senecal Endowed Dean of the School of Business & Society, beginning July 1, 2025.
A dynamic and visionary leader, Dr. Madden brings an outstanding record of academic innovation and a deep commitment to socially responsible business education. Most recently, she served as the inaugural Dean of the School of Business and Paul S. Barber Chair of Design and Innovation at Linfield University. In that role, she led the creation and accreditation of leading-edge graduate programs such as Design and Innovation and Sport Leadership, including a distinctive international consulting capstone. These efforts fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration, supported strategic enrollment growth, strengthened financial sustainability, and positioned Linfield as a leader in experiential business education.
Among her signature initiatives was the launch of Linfield’s Business Symposium, an annual convening of students, alumni, and industry leaders exploring emerging topics like artificial intelligence, workplace wellness, and global economic trends. Under her leadership, the School of Business evolved into a vibrant, future-ready academic unit grounded in real-world engagement and purpose-driven education.
Dr. Madden’s academic background is equally impressive, with faculty appointments at Carthage College, Case Western Reserve University, and Cleveland State University. Her book, Inter-Organizational Collaboration by Design, is in the Routledge Critical Studies in Public Management Series. Throughout her career, she has championed community engagement, innovation, and collaborative solution-finding in both her teaching and scholarship.
In addition to her work in higher education, she brings significant experience in strategic planning, organizational development, project management, and executive coaching. She is a nationally recognized thought leader in nonprofit strategy and cross-sector collaboration with expertise spanning the nonprofit, public, and private sectors, particularly in economic development, real estate, project finance and fund development.
Dr. Madden holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Economics and American Studies from Case Western Reserve University, where she also earned a Master of Nonprofit Organizations and later, a Ph.D. in Management.
Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Dr. Madden. We are excited for the expertise and forward-thinking leadership she brings to the University as we continue to strengthen and grow enrollment within the School of Business & Society.