Norm O’Reilly, Ph.D., began his tenure as UNE’s College of Business (COB) Dean in July of 2024. Dean O’Reilly came to UNE with two decades of leadership experience in higher education, including his most recent role as dean of the Portland-based Graduate School of Business at the University of Maine (UMaine).
“Norm’s track record of building and leading successful academic programs, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and driving strategic initiatives positions him well to lead and grow the UNE College of Business,” said Gwendolyn Mahon, UNE Provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. “We are confident that, under his guidance, the new college will thrive and provide unparalleled opportunities for our students to excel in the ever-evolving business landscape.”
The College of Business has nearly doubled in size since it was established, and its mission is “to be a leading national university in experiential learning,” said Dean O’Reilly. He also noted that in just its first year, the College of Business launched three new programs in excellent fields for jobs post-graduation: marketing, finance, and accounting.
Dean O’Reilly has authored or co-authored 20 books, 14 case studies in the Harvard/Stanford series, and more than 160 peer-reviewed journal articles. He often speaks, including more than 250 keynotes to industry audiences. He is a lifetime research fellow of the North American Society for Sport Management, and, for over 15 years, has been a part-owner and consultant for a Toronto-based sport marketing agency that works with high-profile clients such as Nike, UFC, Pepsi, and the Canadian Olympic/Paralympic Committees. He has additionally served as an expert witness in legal cases related to sport business and has held board positions with numerous global and national sports organizations.
Also, an accomplished and award-winning teacher, Dean O’Reilly has taught using all modalities and at the undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. levels, and has taught in and led numerous executive education programs.
A certified CPA, Dean O’Reilly holds a Ph.D. in management from Carleton University, an MBA and master’s in sports administration from the University of Ottawa, and a bachelor’s in kinesiology from the University of Waterloo.