Haslam College of Business - UT Haslam Department of Business Analytics and Statistics Changes Leadership

Professor Bogdan Bichescu has been selected as the new head of the Department of Business Analytics and Statistics (BAS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business. Bichescu, who also serves as director of BAS’ Master of Science in Business Analytics and AI (MSBAi) program, will take over as department head from Mike Galbreth on August 1. Galbreth, the Pilot Corporation Chair of Excellence, has served in the role for eight years.

An Eye on the Future

Bichescu is focused on the future of business analytics as he prepares to lead the BAS department. He sees the discipline’s future as inextricably linked to AI, and he intends for the BAS department at Haslam to lead academia in offering education and opportunities that prepare analytics professionals to meet a surging need. According to Bichescu, demand remains high for professionals who can harness AI responsibly, build effective data-driven systems and extract timely business insights from complex information.

“BAS is positioned at the center of this trend,” Bichescu says. “We plan to continue expanding our capabilities by recruiting world-class faculty, strengthening corporate partnerships and offering courses that deliver cutting-edge technical skills with the business acumen and communication skills that employers greatly value. The opportunities ahead are unprecedented, and we plan to lead, not follow.”

Not only does Bichescu view analytics and AI as a powerful combination transforming how businesses operate that will only gain strength in the future, but he also views the business function and technology as ways to serve Tennesseans. He feels the department can open the power of analytics and AI to a broad student body, which translates into real-world value.

“We do this through a curriculum that emphasizes practical relevance alongside technical depth, through corporate partnerships that create internship and career opportunities for our students and through research projects that engage students in solving meaningful problems,” he explains. “Our goal is to equip our graduates with the skills, experiences and professional connections they need to make an immediate and lasting impact.”

Continuing a Legacy

Bichescu says he is privileged to take on the role as BAS department head, noting it is energizing and humbling to carry on the legacy of previous department leaders. He calls being selected the next BAS leader one of the greatest honors of his professional career.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to step into this role and to walk in the footsteps of the previous department heads who built BAS into what it is today,” Bichescu says. “I am excited to build on this strong foundation and help drive our department’s continued momentum and growth. We have amazing faculty, a culture of openness and collaboration and programs that consistently deliver strong value to students and employers. This legacy gives me tremendous confidence and energy as I look toward what we can accomplish together.”

As he concludes his time steering the department, Galbreth shares Bichescu’s optimism and looks forward to how he will continue to grow BAS at Haslam.

“I have seen firsthand Bogdan’s strong work ethic, dedication to our students and commitment to the overall success of the department and college,” says Galbreth. “The department could not be in better hands, and I look forward to a bright future for business analytics and statistics at the college with Bogdan as our leader.”

Stephen L. Mangum, Haslam’s dean and Stokely Foundation Leadership Chair, agrees that Bichescu is a natural fit for BAS department head, citing his leadership of the MSBAi program and passion for analytics.

“Under Bogdan’s leadership, the Haslam’s MSBAi program adapted in the face of evolving technologies to continually prepare students in meeting the needs of contemporary businesses,” says Mangum. “He is an accomplished operations management scholar with a history of impactful research that both advances the academic discipline and addresses industry needs. I am excited to see all that Bogdan will accomplish as BAS department head, building on the excellent foundation established under Mike’s years of extraordinary service in the role, service for which I am most grateful.”

Advancing the BAS Mission

While Bichescu looks forward to carrying on the work of his predecessors, he also anticipates forging new paths while advancing the department’s mission and goals.

“As the analytics and AI landscape is evolving at an extraordinary pace, BAS must evolve with it,” he explains. “I will work with our faculty to ensure our curricula reflect the content and skills that define the modern analytics profession.”

He is also looking beyond the classroom, focusing on strengthening the bridge between BAS students and the professional world through better internship access, corporate engagement and projects that increase students’ visibility.

“Our corporate partners are looking for graduates who can create value from day one, and our goal is to deliver on that promise consistently and at scale,” Bichescu says.

Reflecting on what positions Haslam’s BAS department to meet these goals, Bichescu points to the department’s faculty who are true leaders in their fields and alumni who are well-prepared to enter the field upon graduation.

“Our exceptional cross-disciplinary faculty bring together expertise in analytics, statistics, AI and operations management in ways few schools can match,” he says. “This breadth of knowledge translates to coursework that is practically relevant and technically rigorous, equipping students with skills that serve them well from their first day on the job. Our graduates don’t just understand theory; they know how to apply it in real-world business contexts.”

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CONTACT:

Leah McAmis, senior editor, leah@utk.edu