As we look ahead to the fall semester and build on what has been a landmark year for Babson College, we are proud to announce that Dr. Ariel C. Almony will be joining the College as Provost and Executive Vice President.
Ariel comes to Babson from the University of Pittsburgh, where he currently serves as Vice Provost for International Affairs and Director of the University’s Center for International Studies. In this role, Ariel is responsible for building new international partnerships and expanding the University’s impact, and his experience positions him well to lead Babson’s global approach to educating the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders. Throughout his career, he has been a passionate promoter and advocate for faculty research, innovative pedagogy, and diversity in academia.
Vice President Ariel played a key role in advancing the University’s global learning initiatives, research, partnerships, and community engagement. His strategic efforts have consistently been focused through the lens of international advocacy and globalization. Under his leadership, six of the University of Pittsburgh’s International and Global Centers have been designated National Resource Centers by the U.S. Department of Education, and the University has become one of the nation’s leaders in international and global studies.
Ariel’s academic research revolves around democratization, civil society, and human rights issues around the world, making his work influential in sparking debates centered on the relationship between democracy and society. As an immigrant from Argentina, he frequently draws on his personal and professional experiences as a Latino leader in academia and beyond.
Ariel’s broad interdisciplinary experience and extensive scholarship around the world have established him as a leader in the complex relationship between China and Latin America. He is the author of his latest book, Emerging Global Cities: Origins, Structure, and Importancedetails the rapid and unprecedented rise of Miami, Dubai and Singapore as new global powers. Ariel has published longer articles on these topics with leading university presses including Cambridge, Stanford and the University of California.
“Babson’s influence and success as a global leader in higher education and entrepreneurship will be further expanded with Ariel at the helm of the College’s academic innovation.”
President Stephen Spinelli Jr. (MBA’92, Ariel C. Almony PhD) has been named the new president of Babson College.
Prior to assuming the position of Vice Provost, Ariel served in various roles at the University of Pittsburgh, including Vice Provost for International Affairs and Senior Director of International Programs. Previously, he led the American Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Miami and was a Fulbright Scholar, Rockefeller Foundation Scholar, and Residential Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
“Babson’s influence and success as a global leader in higher education and entrepreneurship will surely be expanded with Ariel at the helm of the university’s academic innovation. His ability to connect global thought leaders, coupled with a commitment to student success, will impact every aspect of how we teach and learn.”
“Ariel joins our community as a long-time admirer of Babson’s approach to entrepreneurial education. He has met many Babson alumni both in his personal life and throughout his long career in academia. From undergraduate degrees to MBAs, he has been impressed by each and every Babson alumnus. I know he is eager to bring his global, entrepreneurial mindset to Babson and contribute to our efforts in preparing tomorrow’s leaders.”
The national search for our next Academic Affairs leader was rigorous. Careful consideration was given to assess the leadership capabilities needed to build on Babson’s proven entrepreneurial paradigm of thinking and action. I am grateful for the extensive work of the Chancellor’s Search Committee, comprised of faculty and administrators, who dedicated significant time to this important process. Their dedication to these efforts resulted in a comprehensive search process that engaged the entire community through multiple consultations and ensured that their work was informed by a wide range of campus stakeholders. I am also grateful for the guidance of the renowned firm Isaacson Miller, who facilitated our extensive search. The committee’s work produced a field of outstanding candidates well-suited for this position, and I am confident that Ariel will be the leader of this incredible group.
“The leadership role that Ariel is taking on is a direct result of Babson College’s community-led organizational redesign process. Supported by faculty feedback collected through the COACHE survey and the results of the EY-Parthenon organizational evaluation, community input was integral to our efforts to welcome Ariel to Babson College.”
Ariel is an avid hiker and enjoys hiking one of the world’s highest mountain passes, the Thorong La Pass in the Himalayas. He has lived on four continents, is a television scriptwriter, and a stage director. He is married to Mirna Kolbowski, who has extensive financial experience in banking, higher education, and the non-profit sector. They have two sons, Ian and Alan, and live in New York City. Ariel enjoys family barbecues and watching soccer, especially Lionel Messi games.
Ariel is expected to assume this important role by the middle of the fall semester. We will have an update on Babson College’s academic and student leadership in the near future. In the meantime, please join me in welcoming Ariel to the Babson College community of entrepreneurial leaders.
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