James W. Dean Jr.

James Warren Dean Jr. is an American educator who served as the 20th President of the University of New Hampshire from 2018 to 2024. Dean earned his Ph.D. and master's degrees in organizational behavior from Carnegie Mellon University, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The Catholic University of America.

Education Dean graduated from the Catholic University of America, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He subsequently earned a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University. As provost, he led a number of efforts to support student success, worked to enhance retention and graduation rates, and reorganized resources to better prepare students for life and success after college. Dean also helped to lead a transition toward a new university wide budget model.

Prior to serving as provost, Dean served as the dean of the UNC Kenan–Flagler Business School, where he launched an online MBA program that increased revenue by millions of dollars. His work in the business school started shortly after he joined the faculty at UNC in 1997, when he was asked to lead the Kenan-Flagler Business School's flagship MBA program. As associate dean for executive education, Dean recruited new clients, including the United States Navy and the United States Air Force, and increased revenue by 60 percent.

Dean succeeded Mark Huddleston as the 20th president of the University of New Hampshire on June 30, 2018.

After stepping down as president of the University of New Hampshire in June 2024, Dean returned to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he has served as interim provost since May 2025 following the resignation of Christopher Clemens. His successor, Magnus Egerstedt, was announced on November 12, 2025, and will begin the role on March 2, 2026.

Personal life

Dean and his wife, Jan, have two daughters and four grandchildren.