Biography

Since becoming Dean of the UCF College of Business in July 2012, Dr. Paul Jarley has led a bold culture shift rooted in student engagement and real-world relevance. He believes the best education starts with curiosity and deep conversation—especially with people who have done interesting things. At one of the largest business schools in the country, with over 8,300 undergraduates and 800 graduate students, Dean Jarley has thrown open the doors to employers, alumni, and the business community, turning the college into a platform for exploration, experimentation, and connection.

Under his leadership, the college has launched forward-looking programs in Integrated Business, FinTech, Business Analytics and soon Space Commercialization. He created The EXCHANGE, a daily TED-style forum where students engage directly with thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry veterans. He also built a student ambassador network, a corporate partnership program to fund immersive learning experiences, and a Hall of Fame gala that has become Central Florida’s largest business networking event. Through it all, he has worked to make education more human, more experiential, and more distinctive—preparing students not just for their first job, but for a life of impact.
Jarley is widely published in numerous peer-reviewed journals including Industrial Relations Journal, British Journal of Industrial Relations, Journal of Labor Research and the Academy of Management Journal and is currently on the editorial board at the Journal of Labor Research.

Read more of Dean Jarley’s thoughts on business, leadership and education at business.ucf.edu/dean and be sure to check out his podcast, Is This Really a Thing? wherever you listen to podcasts.

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