Dean H. Rao Unnava: August 2025 Big 3 Video

Dean H. Rao Unnava's August 2025 edition of the Big 3 features:

Steppling Down as Dean, Returning to Faculty
After a decade of forward-thinking leadership, Dean H. Rao Unnava will step down in 2026, leaving a legacy of innovation, expanded access, and national recognition for UC Davis Graduate School of Management. After a sabbatical, he will return to the faculty to teach in 2017. Read more >

Two Esteemed Professors Named Glock Chairs in Management
Professors Prasad Naik and Greta Hsu have been appointed to prestigious endowed faculty chairs at UC Davis Graduate School of Management, recognizing their exceptional contributions to marketing, organizational behavior and the School’s academic mission. Read more >

New Full-Time MBA Students Learn the Ropes of Leadership
Suspended high above the ground, the UC Davis Full-Time MBA incoming class of 2027 kicked off orientation by embracing discomfort, leaning on teammates and transforming nervous energy into confidence on the Sonoma Challenge Ropes Course. Read more >

Video Transcript

• Dean H. Rao Unnava Stepping Down, Returning to Faculty 
• Two Esteemed Professors Named Glock Chairs in Management
• Full-Time MBA Students Learn the Ropes of Leadership

Welcome to the August 2025 edition of the Big 3 Video Newsletter.

Dean H. Rao Unnava Stepping Down, Returning to Faculty to Teach

It is with deep pride in what we have accomplished together that I share some personal news. I will be stepping down as dean of the UC Davis Graduate School of Management next June. A national search for my successor will begin next month.

Serving as dean has been the honor of a lifetime. I have had the privilege of working with world-class faculty and staff, and supporting remarkable students who are passionate about making the world a better place.

I'm deeply grateful to our Chancellor and Provost, to our Dean's Advisory Council, Alumni Board, and to our generous alumni whose support has made so much possible. Together, we have launched new degree programs, expanded experiential learning, and built opportunities that connect business with UC Davis’ greatest strengths — agriculture, biotechnology and sustainable energy.

And next month, we will welcome the University's first class of undergraduate business majors.

When my wife, Vasu and I, arrived nearly a decade ago after more than 30 years at The Ohio State University, we were immediately struck by the warmth of this community. After my term as dean ends next summer, I plan to take a sabbatical before returning in 2027 to continue teaching advertising and marketing here at the GSM.

Thank you all for your support, encouragement and partnership in our School's collective success.

Two Esteemed Professors Named Glock Chairs in Management

I'm also delighted to share wonderful news about two of our distinguished faculty members. Professor Prasad Naik and Greta Hsu have been appointed to prestigious endowed chairs, created through the vision and generosity of Miriam Glock.

Professor Naik, a pioneering scholar in marketing analytics, has been named Robert W. Glock Chair in Management. His groundbreaking models have guided companies worldwide on optimizing advertising spend.

Professor Hsu, a leading authority in organizational behavior and recently named our associate dean of undergraduate programs, has been appointed the Robert W. and Miriam R. Glock Chair in Management. Her research on how markets evolve has shaped the way we understand organizations and industries.

These appointments are a testament to their extraordinary scholarship and to the enduring impact of philanthropic investment in academic excellence. Congratulations to both Prasad and Greta.

Full-Time MBA Students Learn the Ropes of Leadership

This summer, we've been thrilled to welcome our incoming classes of 2025 from across the nation and around the world. With graduate programs in Davis, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Ramon, we have hosted a full slate of orientation activities designed to build connections and prepare our students for success.

For example, our Full-Time MBA cohort didn't just visit the wine country to sample vintages. They tackled the Sonoma Challenge Ropes Course high in the redwood forest. This unforgettable experience tested their teamwork, resilience and leadership in a very real way.

At the GSM, we encourage our students to push beyond the expected, within themselves and together as a community.

Thank you for watching the Big 3.