Jayadhurganandh “J.D.” Jayaraman has been appointed the new interim dean of the School of Business at New Jersey City University, the school announced Friday.
Jayaraman, currently the chair of the Department of Finance at the school, brings a wealth of academic and industry experience to his new role as the interim dean. His unique interdisciplinary background includes a Ph.D. in finance from Oklahoma State University and additional graduate degrees in educational psychology and cognitive science from Columbia University.
As the chair of the Department of Finance, Jayaraman has been instrumental in creating innovative undergraduate and graduate programs in business analytics, data science and fintech. His research spans financial literacy, educational data mining, artificial intelligence for social good and the application of machine learning in finance, with numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Before making the career transition to higher education and academia, Jayaraman gained over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, primarily in the areas of algorithmic trading, risk management, energy markets and financial technology. His experience includes executive leadership roles at Bloomberg L.P., Citigroup, and several financial technology companies, where he specialized in risk management, quantitative modeling and financial trading technology. This blend of academic and practical expertise informs his approach to preparing students for the evolving business landscape.
Jayaraman succeeds Marvin Walker, who had been serving in a temporary dual role as interim dean of the School of Business and as the dean of the College of Professional Studies, where he will continue to lead the college’s efforts.
Donna Breault, the interim provost at NJCU, thanked Walker while welcoming Jayaraman.
“We are grateful that, over the past year, NJCU’s School of Business has been led by a strong and caring leader in Dr. Walker,” she said. “As our university continues to evolve and we realign our efforts with our revitalized mission and first-ever Academic Master Plan, we know that Dr. Jayaraman will provide exemplary leadership for a school that offers dynamic undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare our students for high-demand fields.
“Throughout his academic career at NJCU, he has been a thoughtful and creative leader and his diverse professional and academic experience will serve our students and faculty well.”
Jayaraman said he was grateful for the opportunity.
“I am deeply honored to serve as the interim dean of the School of Business at NJCU,” he said. “My primary goal is to foster an enriching and inclusive environment that enhances the educational journey of our diverse student body. We will focus on empowering our students with the essential skills, global insights and practical experiences needed to thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape.”
Jayaraman is committed to community engagement and service. He serves on the board for various nonprofit organizations. He has also served in leadership roles in professional organizations in New Jersey.
