Khaled Hassanein reappointed Dean of Business

Khaled Hassanein has been reappointed as dean of the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University for a second five-year term, effective July 1, 2026.

Since beginning his tenure as dean in July 2021, Hassanein has led DeGroote through a period of significant transformation and revitalization. His first term began at a time of extraordinary uncertainty, as the Faculty navigated the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, the School of Business successfully transitioned and rebuilt its sense of community and developed a renewed strategic direction centred on student-focused learning, impactful research, inclusive excellence and meaningful engagement with business and society.

“The progress we have made over the past five years reflects the collective effort, commitment, and talent of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners. Together, we have positioned DeGroote for a strong and exciting future.”

“Dean Hassanein’s leadership over the past five years has strengthened DeGroote’s sense of community while advancing excellence in research, teaching and learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and equity, diversity and inclusion,” says Maureen MacDonald, provost and vice-president, Academic.

“I look forward to continuing to work alongside him and am confident the School will continue to thrive under his leadership.”

The achievements during Hassanein’s first term have been both substantial and far-reaching. The School of Business undertook a major renewal of its faculty complement, hiring 36 new full-time members, significantly increasing both its research and teaching capacities while enriching the academic community with depth and diversity.

Research performance has also grown markedly. DeGroote has achieved significant increases in scholarly output and research funding, while enhancing its global reputation. New research centres and labs were launched, and three Canada Research Chairs and seven Business Research Chairs were appointed, as well as the Purolator Chair in Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

Program innovation has been another defining hallmark of this period. Several graduate and undergraduate programs were redesigned to emphasize integration and experiential learning. New graduate programs in artificial intelligence and analytics were introduced while the undergraduate curriculum was further expanded with the addition of new minors in artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship open to DeGroote and McMaster students, equipping them with the forward-looking skills to not only adapt to the future of business, but to shape it.

Beyond the classroom, student success has been reflected in top placements in national and international competition results and consistently strong employment outcomes.

DeGroote’s external presence continued to flourish. Renewed momentum in alumni relations, donor support, expanded corporate partnerships in executive education, and a growing global footprint have meaningfully raised the school’s profile and created new opportunities for students and partners alike.

DeGroote has also advanced its commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion through new governance structures, targeted scholarships and expanded access for underrepresented groups. These efforts have contributed meaningfully to the school’s culture.

A defining feature of this term has been DeGroote’s active role in advancing interdisciplinary collaboration across the university. The School of Business has played a leadership role in McMaster’s Planetary Health initiative in partnership with the faculties of Engineering and Science. This initiative brings together expertise across disciplines to address complex global challenges at the intersection of environmental sustainability, technological innovations, and economic systems.

In the coming months, the opening of the McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery will spark a new era in business education. This 10-storey, purpose-built facility is designed to enhance experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaboration through its 10 learning hubs.

As an example, the Marinucci Entrepreneurial Bridge which will operate in close partnership with the Office of the Vice-President, Research, DeGroote Heersink Hub and the Forge, will serve as a vital link within McMaster’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Looking ahead to his second term, Hassanein will work with the community to build on this solid foundation. Key priorities include the successful launch, activation and continued growth of the McLean Centre, strengthening DeGroote’s global reputation through world-class research, and continued advancement of interdisciplinary initiatives and educational excellence.