FDU names longtime faculty member Silberman College dean

The Silberman College of Business at Madison-based Fairleigh Dickinson University announced Friday that longtime faculty member and administrator James Almeida has been named its dean.

Almeida joined FDU 25 years ago as a faculty member and has served as associate professor of entrepreneurship. He also has been a member of the senior leadership team at Silberman College for well over a decade and has served as associate dean and interim dean.

“Having worked closely with Jim for many years, I know well his exceptional talents and his dedication to Silberman College,” FDU President Michael J. Avaltroni said. “He has shown superb leadership in a variety of situations over the years, and his experience and passion will inspire many great achievements for the college.”

“I am humbled and delighted to be entrusted now by President Avaltroni with the responsibility to lead Silberman College, and we have a very promising future,” Almeida said. “I have taken great pride in my ability to collaborate with colleagues within Silberman as well as across FDU, and our success is owed to these relationships that we have cultivated over the years. While I recognize the challenges that characterize the higher education landscape, I am confident that working together we can take advantage of the numerous opportunities that exist to expand the reach and impact of Silberman College and Fairleigh Dickinson University.”

During his tenure, Almeida has spearheaded a number of firsts at FDU that have propelled Silberman College forward, including the Saturday MBA program, new degree programs in supply chain management and digital marketing, a Pharm.D. MBA option starting with the inaugural Pharm.D. class in 2013 — as well as streamlining and managing one of the most impactful FDU initiatives — and the M.S. accounting program delivered to members of the orthodox Jewish community, which has graduated more than 1,400 students since its introduction in 2006.

He also has led Silberman’s efforts to successfully maintain its AACSB accreditation for well over two decades, and has worked closely with the Silberman College advisory board to make it a highly engaged group of alumni and benefactors committed to supporting the college and its students.

As a faculty scholar, Almeida’s research has been published in journals such as the Academy of Management Journal and Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice.