Appointment of Dean, School of Management and Labor Relations

May 9, 2012  

Members of the Rutgers Community:

It is my pleasure to announce that Professor Susan Schurman, who has served as acting dean of Rutgers' School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR) since September 1, 2011, has been appointed to the deanship of SMLR, effective immediately. She will also continue to serve as dean of the University College Community.

Dr. Schurman brings tremendous scholarly and practical experience to the deanship. She came to Rutgers 20 years ago as an associate professor of labor studies and director of labor extension programs within SMLR.  In 1997, she began a decade-long tenure as the founding president of the National Labor College in Silver Springs, Maryland. Upon her return to the SMLR faculty in 2007, Dr. Schurman also accepted the deanship of the University College Community and directorship of lifelong learning for the Division of Continuous Education. Over the past five years, she has worked closely with the academic units at Rutgers-New Brunswick to create new degree completion options for adult non-traditional students.

A bus driver early in her career, Sue became the head of her local union and director of driver training. Subsequently gaining her doctoral degree in higher, adult, and continuing education from the University of Michigan, Dr. Schurman has continued to be involved in labor and in adult education throughout her career. Her research interests focus on two areas: creating healthy and effective organizations and examining policies that promote adult lifelong learning.

Earlier this year, Dr. Schurman earned high praise from both sides for mediating the merger of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Hollywood’s two largest actors unions. She has also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the United Association of Labor Education and earned election to the Board of Directors of the Labor and Employment Research Association. 

Dean Schurman has done an excellent job in an acting capacity and will continue to provide vision and leadership for SMLR in the coming years. Please join me in offering her congratulations and continued support.

Richard L. McCormick
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey