What does the future of the Simon Business School look like? - University of Rochester

What does the future of the Simon Business School look like?

Matt Cook

October 27, 2026

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Interim Dean Mitch Lovett discusses how AI, shifting enrollment patterns, and evolving workforce needs are reshaping business education.

Mitch Lovett (URochester photo / Matt Wittmeyer)

Chris Marquis, a professor at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School, proposes dismantling business schools, including Simon at the University of Rochester, arguing that they transform altruistic students into profit-driven dealmakers. In a subsequent Poets&Quants interview, Marquis clarified his goal as reinvention, not abolition.

Lovett responded indirectly on LinkedIn, emphasizing the diverse approaches taken by business schools. While Marquis criticizes business schools for producing agents who perpetuate societal issues, Lovett argues that schools like Simon equip students to question these practices. He highlights the importance of intellectual rigor, a cornerstone of a Simon education, as it navigates significant changes driven by:

• The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence
• Employers reevaluating needed skills
• Uncertainty around international student enrollment
• Rising skepticism about the value of a graduate degree

In a Leadership Conversation, Lovett discussed these forces and Simon’s response, emphasizing the increasing value of critical thinking for future business leaders.

Key Takeaways:

1. Enrollment challenges present a branding opportunity.
2. International enrollment has been crucial for Simon, but changes in immigration policies and relations create new obstacles.
3. AI, shifting workforce needs, and global dynamics demand intellectual rigor and critical thinking from business schools.
4. Simon is adapting to these changes, leveraging its unique approach to education.
5. Critical thinking will be more valuable than ever for future business leaders.