Mos Influential: James Jiambalvo

As head of the UW’s Foster School of Business, Jiambalvo has been instrumental in improving that school’s ranking on the list of full-time public school MBA programs, up from 13th in 2008 to eighth in 2009

James Jiambalvo [ Dean, Michael G. Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, and the Kirby L. Cramer Chair in Business Administration ]

School rankings may not be a perfect measure of success, but there’s no doubt they raise an institution’s profile. As head of the UW’s Foster School of Business, Jiambalvo, 60, has been instrumental in improving that school’s ranking on the U.S. News & World Report list of full-time public school MBA programs, up from 13th in 2008 to eighth in 2009. It’s just one measure of success for this public-accountant-turned-professor (he taught at the UW for three decades before becoming dean), who nabbed the school’s top spot after a nationwide search. Jiambalvo (pronounced gee-em-balvo) has also re-energized the business school’s capital campaign, pulling in some $65 million in major gifts during the campaign’s final year in 2008. And he’s credited with re-envisioning (as two phases) the biz school’s new home; phase one—funded by contributors who lined up behind his leadership—PACCAR Hall, a $95 million, state-of-the-art facility, is set to open for classes in fall 2010. “It may be the single most important aspect of us becoming a successful school,” he says. (Phase 2 is in the design phase.)

“Our ultimate goal is to be the best public business school in America,” he says. “I don’t think that means being ranked number one. It’s about creating futures and changing the lives of our students; that’s the ultimate goal.”