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Russell Sage College has named John Dion dean of its School of Management.
Since joining Russell Sage in 2024, Dion has taught undergraduate and graduate business courses, served as graduate program director, and launched Sage’s Flex MBA program, which lets students switch between in-person, live online, and asynchronous online classes from week to week. He previously taught at The College of Saint Rose and also has more than 25 years of corporate marketing experience with globally recognized brands, including LEGO, Bose, Ferrari, Maserati, and Porsche.
In the following Q&A, learn how he is prioritizing collaboration to advance business education at Sage.
Please talk about your initial priorities as dean of the School of Management. Are there initiatives or partnerships that you’re especially excited to introduce or expand?
One of our first priorities is to review the university’s strategic plan and identify where the School of Management can most effectively contribute to achieving its goals. Our priorities should flow from and reinforce that plan.
When I worked at Bose Corporation, Dr. Bose often said, “In order to be better, you have to be different.” I believe a key priority for the School of Management is to identify meaningful ways to differentiate ourselves from other business schools. Of course, being different alone is not enough; that differentiation must matter to students and to prospective employers.
I see significant opportunities for collaboration across Sage. We’ve already had great success working with the School of Education on the MBA/SDBL program and with Admissions, Marketing, and the School of Education through the Sparrell initiative, a partnership program with select employers that allows eligible employees to take their first MBA course at no cost before deciding to matriculate.
As a smaller institution, Sage has the advantage of being nimble. We can move quickly to develop new programs and partnerships. Strategic collaboration across the university will be central to how we distinguish the School of Management.
How has your professional background shaped your approach to business education?
One of the School of Management’s strengths is how effectively we blend theory and practice. It’s essential that students understand the core theories that apply across business contexts, but those ideas truly come alive when students see how they are applied in real organizations.
My industry experience allows me to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Having worked directly in business, I can connect abstract concepts to concrete decisions and results. I believe this background gives me credibility with students and helps them better understand how what they are learning translates into professional practice.
How do you see the School of Management evolving to meet the expectations of today’s students and employers?
Staying closely connected to industry is critical. We need strong strategic partnerships and ongoing dialogue with employers to understand how expectations are evolving. That insight should inform regular reviews of both our curriculum and our co-curricular offerings.
We also need to remain current with emerging tools and technologies, such as AI, and integrate them into our programs in thoughtful, meaningful ways. The goal is not to chase trends, but to ensure our graduates are prepared to succeed in a rapidly changing business environment.
In addition to serving as dean, you’re teaching Business Strategy, Marketing Management, and Competitive Advantage this semester. What do you value about staying in the classroom while leading the school?
I left industry for academia because I wanted to teach. Working directly with students is extremely rewarding for me. Teaching is core to what we do at Sage, and staying in the classroom will also keep me connected to the student experience. I believe that remaining actively engaged in teaching will make me a better dean, more grounded in the realities of the classroom and the needs of our students.