Welcome to the Odette School of Business!
Rise, Connect, Create! - A Message from Dean Josianne Marsan
Dear Future Leaders, Current Students, Alums, and Valued Community Members,
It is with tremendous honour and excitement that I introduce myself as the new Dean of the Odette School of Business, effective July 1, 2025. As the first female dean in Odette's distinguished 72-year history, I am deeply humbled to be in this role and build upon the remarkable legacy of excellence that has defined our school since 1953.
My vision for Odette will be built through co-creation. It evolves by listening to others, reflecting on shared values, and building something meaningful together.
A Fresh Chapter Built on Strong Foundations
Since our founding in 1953, when Dr. Gilbert Horne established the Department of Business Administration with just sixteen graduates, we have flourished into a vibrant hub, now welcoming approximately 1,600 students both locally and from nearly 29 countries across the globe. In 2000, the faculty was renamed the Odette School of Business in honour of long-standing supporters and philanthropists Edmond and Louis Odette. The Odette family's commitment to education continues to this day.
I bring over 16 years of experience at Université Laval’s School of Business (FSA ULaval), where I served as Vice-Dean of Research and Innovation and co-founded and directed a research center focused on information technology and business. This journey has deepened my appreciation for the transformative power of business education when it bridges research, innovation, and real-world impact.
At Odette School of Business, I am surrounded by a dedicated decanal team, as well as by talented faculty and staff, who have chosen me to be their new leader. I truly wish to inspire them, to make them proud, and to build with them the future of Odette on the strong foundations that they and our predecessors have laid.
Today, we continue to celebrate remarkable achievements that reflect our commitment to excellence:
- Our MBA graduates maintain an outstanding 91% employment rate just six months after graduation
- Our undergraduate programs achieve 92% employment rates
- Our 65 expert faculty has published about 250 peer-reviewed articles and garnered over 24,000 citations in the past five years
- Our school has strong partnerships with several organizations, including the John Howard Society of Ontario, the McMaster Children’s Hospital, the World Health Innovation Network, among others.
Three Pillars for Odette Future
Our vision for Odette is guided by three priorities that will shape our path forward:
Building Strength Through Inclusive Excellence - We will leverage our existing strength—including our prestigious AACSB accreditation, held by only 6% of business schools globally recognized as trailblazers in teaching, research, and societal impact—and on our reputation for academic excellence. At the same time, we will cultivate an environment where every path to excellence is recognized and encouraged.
Transforming Together Through Innovation - Odette is a school that is open to trying—as well as creating—new things. Embracing change and transformation will be central to our leadership, with a focus on adapting to challenges and seizing new opportunities in an ever-evolving world.
Connecting People for Local and Global Impact - Innovation here has a purpose. It is always connected to the needs of the community and the curiosity of the people within it. We will deepen our connections locally in Windsor-Essex while expanding our global reach and partnerships.
Global Perspective, Local Heart
We are home to a beautifully diverse community of students, staff, and faculty from many countries, including Brazil, China, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, and Vietnam. This rich tapestry of perspectives enhances every classroom discussion and collaborative project, preparing our students for the global business landscape they will help shape.
Before making their mark on the world stage as alums, our students exemplify excellence in local actions. For example, our MBA students have launched the groundbreaking 40-40 Campaign, a digital tourism passport program created in partnership with the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. This innovative initiative showcases 40 local Windsor businesses and aims to reconnect border communities while reinvigorating Windsor's tourism. The tunnel's CEO reported that the campaign has exceeded all expectations in terms of the number of individuals who have registered for the digital passport.
We not only provide our students with hands-on learning, industry partnerships, real-world application, and technology and tools that define modern business excellence—such as our Dr. Mitchell W. Fields Data Analytics Lab—but we also inspire them with innovative scholarly and practical research. A recent example is our partnership with the John Howard Society of Ontario that has been recognized by AACSB as an Innovation that inspires. We are working with the Society to share knowledge between their experts and our faculty, with the goal of improving fair employment chances for people affected by the justice system.
All this demonstrates how our Odette members come together to create positive impact beyond our walls. We will continue this path to deepening our local impact and broadening our global impact.
A Commitment and an invitation
Now that I have made Windsor-Essex my home, I am embracing life in this vibrant community. I am actively connecting with the people, organizations, and culture that make this region so distinctive. This personal investment in our community reflects my belief that great leadership begins with genuine connection and understanding.
Odette School of Business is formed of both new and existing members, and together, we are committed to serving our community and advancing Odette's mission of excellence. You can expect to see us more than ever outside Odette's walls, as we actively engage with our broader Windsor-Essex community and beyond.
Whether you are a prospective student considering your next step, a current student navigating your academic journey, an alum reflecting on your time with us, or a community partner exploring collaboration opportunities, you are part of our extended Odette family. Let us make history together.
As your new dean, I invite you to join me in co-creating a future that honours our proud heritage while boldly embracing the possibilities ahead. Together, we are not just preparing for the future of business—we are actively creating it.
Rise, Connect, Create!
For more information about our programs and opportunities, visit us at uwindsor.ca/business or connect with us on social media.