In a sign of the virtual times, Arshad Saiyed has been named the inaugural chief online learning officer and dean of professional education at Stevens Institute of Technology, the school announced this week.
He will assume the role April 15.
In this new role, Saiyed will spearhead the establishment of the College of Online and Professional Education, an independent academic unit dedicated to delivering high-quality, technology-infused online programs. The creation of this college reflects Stevens’ commitment to expanding access to education while maintaining academic rigor and relevance.
Saiyed brings to Stevens more than 20 years of expertise in digital transformation within higher education. Throughout his tenure as an advocate for tech adoption in academia, he has championed integrating technology into education to enhance quality, affordability and global reach.
Stevens Provost Jianmin Qu said Saiyed is a perfect fit for the role.
“Saiyed’s experience in driving the digital evolution of education makes him the ideal leader for this pivotal role,” he said. “His leadership will help propel Stevens to new heights in this space while meeting the evolving needs of students and employers.”
Saiyed joins Stevens from Northeastern University in Boston, where he directed the Experiential Digital Global Education unit as associate vice president for digital education and innovation since 2020. Saiyed built Northeastern’s digital services into a revenue center and launched significant corporate partnerships.
Before joining Northeastern, Saiyed was assistant dean for online programs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He spent 18 years at Illinois’ Gies College of Business in various capacities related to online programs and digital strategy, including the creation of the innovative iMBA program, one of the world’s largest online MBA programs. In just four years, under Saiyed’s guidance, the iMBA program grew to 3,200 students from an initial enrollment of 114.
“I am honored to join Stevens Institute of Technology and to lead the charge in shaping the trajectory of online and professional education,” he said. “This role represents a profound opportunity to continue the institution’s rich tradition of excellence and redefine what is possible in online and professional education.”
Saiyed holds an engineering degree from Gujarat University, India, and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
