As the newly appointed Dean of the College of Business at the University of New England (UNE), Norman O’Reilly is already making a significant impact. With ambitious goals and a track record of success, O’Reilly is shaping the future of the college and pushing it to new heights.
“He came in here with pretty large goals, and he’s already accomplishing them right from the start,” said Aimee Vlachos, program director of outdoor business and innovation and professor.
He has achieved a lot in the last five months, including creating and hiring several positions within his sections of the college. With those positions filled, he is able to create a positive atmosphere for the staff and students.
O’Reilly’s leadership is already being felt at UNE, where he is spearheading the development of a new master’s program in business and a PhD program—initiatives that will strengthen the college’s academic offerings and attract top-tier students.
“I think that Dean O’Reilly has an incredible grasp of multiple business disciplines, which is incredibly helpful as we build out the College of Business,” Kiernan Gordon, associate professor of sport leadership & management and director of the sport leadership & management program, wrote in an email.
O’Reilly’s academic journey began with a degree in kinesiology from the University of Waterloo in Canada, his country of origin, driven by his desire to become a better athlete. “Part way through that [kinesiology] program, I did a work term with a national sport organization and discovered the business of sports,” O’Reilly recalled—this led him to pursue a Master’s in sports administration, an MBA, and a PhD in Marketing, along with a CPA in Accounting.
O’Reilly’s academic career includes faculty roles at prestigious institutions such as Ohio University, Stanford, and Syracuse. He has authored 20 books, co-authored 14 case studies in the Harvard/Stanford series, and published over 165 peer-reviewed journal articles.
Some these books include The Rise of Major League Soccer: Building a Global Giant, Sports Business Management: Decision Making Around the Globe, and 20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes Who Won’t Go Pro: Ohio University Sports Management Book Series—this book was given to students athletes at UNE at an event O’Reilly hosted. “For student athletes, and students in general, the best advice is to maximize your student experience,” O’Reilly said.
Additionally, he has consulted as an expert legal witness in a case with the IRS, using his knowledge from research and past work experience to better serve his community.
Beyond the workplace, O’Reilly is also a dedicated athlete. He recently achieved a personal goal of qualifying for the IronMan World Championship in Hawaii as a triathlete, proving that his drive for excellence extends beyond academia.
Students and faculty alike appreciate his visionary approach and his commitment to supporting those around him. “Norm has been incredibly supportive of my ideas,” said Nick Corneau, a sports management major with a minor in business administration and coaching. “He’s genuinely interested in seeing students succeed.”
O’Reilly refers to himself as an “academic entrepreneur,” a term that reflects his approach to both academia and business. Within the staff at the College of Business, he had assistance from the staff to create a set of core values for them to all follow and consider when it comes to their work.
These values are known as STRIVES, an acronym that stands for, Student-centered in all our actions, Technology-driven in all our activities, Respect for our community, Innovation in our decision making, Versatile, inclusive, and open in how we operate, Empathy for our faculty and professional staff teammates, and Stewardship for our environment. Dean O’Reilly wants to ensure that student success is at the forefront of his decision-making, while also keeping up with the ever-changing world of business.
“I talked to him about my ideas and things I wanted to do. He was supportive and said, ‘let’s make things happen,'” Vlachos said. With his ongoing initiatives and unwavering commitment to student success, O’Reilly is setting a course for UNE to become a leader in business education.
O’Reilly also shares his wealth of experience and knowledge within the classroom at UNE as a professor. He currently teaches a night class, sponsorship (BUMK 444 or SLM 444. This class has enabled students to experience that aspect of business. Whether they are a marketing or sports management major, giving students the opportunity to use his contacts to gain experience is very important.
“He has great connections where you can be working and talking [with] top, big-name companies,” Nick Corneau, a sports management major with a minor in business administration and coaching, wrote in an email.
O’Reilly states, “It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in a job. I mean, the university is great. We are going in a great direction, fully supported.”
