Meet Carmen Cotei, the woman who was recently appointed Queens College’s first-ever Ally Bridge Dean of the School of Business. She is tasked with shaping the future of a school designed to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy.

With a background that spans industry, research, and academic leadership, Cotei steps into the role with an ambitious vision to expand experiential learning, strengthen ties to New York City’s business community, and position the School of Business as a launchpad for student success.

“Dean Cotei brings to the college superb business education credentials alongside a highly regarded faculty and a successful alumni network,” said Queens College President Frank H. Wu. “This great combination ensures students are receiving invaluable benefits from a Queens College business degree, both through undergraduate and graduate studies, and at an affordable cost.”  

Coming to America

The perspective Cotei brings to Queens College was shaped by a journey that began in a small mountain town in Romania, where she earned her bachelor’s degree at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies. After beginning her career as head of finance for a global telecommunications company, she chose to pursue a new challenge—moving to the United States to earn a PhD in finance at the University of New Orleans.

Originally envisioning a career in investment banking or at the Federal Reserve, Cotei instead discovered a passion for teaching. That shift led her to the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business in 2004, where she spent two decades building a career that combined scholarship, leadership, and institutional growth.

She rose from assistant professor to full professor while taking on key leadership roles, including program director, department chair, interim dean, and associate dean. Along the way, she guided strategic planning, supported faculty development, and shaped the direction of Hartford’s business school.

Her research has evolved alongside her career—from early work on corporate finance and initial public offerings to more recent focus on entrepreneurship; small-business financing; environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues; and impact investing.  

But despite a long and successful run at the University of Hartford, the opportunity to build something new drew her to Queens College. After a nationwide search, Queens College chose Cotei as the inaugural Ally Bridge Dean. 

“A friend of mine saw the ad for the position, and she nominated me. And reading the leadership profile, it was clear to me that I was a very good fit for Queens College,” explained Cotei. “I like their mission. I like the fact that it’s a very diverse school, located in a very diverse place—the most diverse place in the world, actually—and it was clear to me that I had the exact skills and qualities not only required but also preferred by Queens College.”

Queens College Means Business

As dean, Cotei has an ambitious vision for the future of the Queens College School of Business.

Cotei plans to establish a pathway to Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation (the gold standard for business schools), expand experiential learning opportunities for all students, strengthen partnerships with local businesses, and work closely with the alumni advisory board to open new career pathways.

She also intends to address longstanding challenges, from providing stronger support for transfer students to helping the college raise additional funds and exploring expansions of non-credit program offerings.

Cotei believes Queens College’s location is one of its greatest strategic assets that will help her achieve these goals.

“New York City is a hub of innovation, entrepreneurship, and culture. That is the launchpad that we are going to use to interact with industry professionals, as well as business community members, and involve them in the School of Business Life, so our students will have a network they can leverage to find their first job or first internship,” explained Cotei. “From that perspective, this is a strategic advantage that New York City has, and Queens College is located in just the right place to have all those opportunities.”

Hitting the Ground Running

Cotei has already begun putting that vision into action. 

The Business School recently partnered with QC’s Tech Incubator, a program that helps early-stage ventures build successful technology companies. The Tech Incubator, the first and only one of its kind in Queens County, will offer micro-AI internships to business students and deliver business consulting projects to small businesses in Queens.

She has also strengthened the curriculum by introducing required courses in data analytics and accounting information systems, along with new offerings such as Personal Finance, Management, and Business Analytics—changes designed to strengthen students’ foundational skills and better align student learning with industry needs.

Students are also gaining increased access to invaluable networking opportunities. The school hosts events such as its annual “Meet the Firms” program and organizes visits with major organizations including Deloitte, KPMG, Morgan Stanley, Bloomberg, and the New York State Society of CPAs (NYCPA).

Efforts are also underway to strengthen transfer pathways. Cotei is working with neighboring Queensborough Community College to support a smooth transfer pathway for economics and accounting students, while Queens’ economics department has joined the City University of New York’s Universal Pathway Transfer Initiative, which allows for the vertical transfer of business degrees (associate’s degree to bachelor’s degree).

In addition, the School of Business offers a Career Design Lab pilot program, focused on helping students translate academic experience into career readiness through résumé development, interview preparation, and professional skill-building.

Looking Ahead

For Cotei, the opportunity to build something new is what makes this role especially meaningful.

“As the inaugural dean, I have the unique opportunity to build a new School of Business, to build its identity and reputation,” Cotei said. “We are not just building a school, we are building a brand that will be known for excellence, for equity, and for impact. And I think Queens College, and particularly the new School of Business, will be a place where excellence meets opportunity and where students from all backgrounds can thrive and be successful. I’m very excited to step into this role.”