Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå

Faculty and Staff

Ryan D. Butt, DBA, JD, serves as Dean of the College of Business and Graduate School of Management at Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University. Since joining Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå in July 2017, he has led strategic planning, accreditation, academic innovation, faculty and student success, resource stewardship, advancement, career readiness, and external engagement for the College.

Dr. Butt is currently leading the College’s pursuit of AACSB accreditation. Under his leadership, the College’s eligibility application was accepted in 2024, and its initial Self-Evaluation Report was submitted in May 2026. This multiyear initiative includes strengthening the College’s strategic planning, faculty qualifications, Assurance of Learning, curriculum management, governance, and continuous improvement systems. Previously, he led the successful ACBSP reaffirmation of accreditation for 10 undergraduate and five graduate programs and the initial accreditation of two additional undergraduate degrees and one graduate degree.

Dr. Butt’s academic leadership is grounded in continuous improvement across the College’s undergraduate, graduate, adult, and professional programs. He has supported comprehensive curriculum review, the development of new and accelerated academic pathways, and closer alignment of programs with changing student needs, workforce expectations, and professional standards. His leadership has contributed to specialized recognition and accreditation, including accreditation of the Master of Science in Project Management by the Project Management Institute’s Global Accreditation Center and International Coaching Federation accreditation for professional coaching education. He has also advanced the integration of artificial intelligence, micro-credentials, industry-recognized certifications, interdisciplinary learning, and applied professional experiences throughout the College’s academic portfolio.

Working collaboratively with University Advancement and external partners, Dr. Butt has helped secure philanthropic and governmental support for major College priorities, including Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University’s first endowed professorship, the Bryan and Mary Durkin Family Finance & Trading Lab, the Kathy Huber-Halloran Career & Talent Accelerator, a regional business incubator, and an endowed student business-plan competition. He has also directed capital investments designed to enhance the student experience, including active-learning classrooms, mock-interview facilities, collaborative study and lounge spaces, and other specialized learning environments.

A strong advocate for student success and career preparation, Dr. Butt has supported faculty mentoring, new faculty and staff onboarding, student organizations, employer engagement, and stronger systems for College planning and operations. The Kathy Huber-Halloran Career & Talent Accelerator represents the College’s expanding commitment to connecting undergraduate and graduate business students with professional-development programming, employers, alumni, career-development technologies, mentoring, and applied learning experiences.

Committed to Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå University’s Lasallian mission, Dr. Butt serves as President of the La Salle Business School Alliance, a global network connecting Lasallian business schools and academic leaders. In this role, he advances the Alliance’s governance, international partnerships, institutional engagement, and collaborative opportunities for students and faculty. He also serves on the Choose DuPage Board and works with employers, alumni, community organizations, educational partners, and other Lasallian institutions to expand the College’s regional and global impact.

Before joining Â鶹´«Ã½¸ßÇå, Dr. Butt served as Dean of the College of Business and Leadership at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio. His accomplishments included leading business-school accreditation, launching an innovative global MBA program, redesigning undergraduate internship and graduate career-development programs, expanding international academic relationships, securing philanthropic and grant support, and developing social-enterprise initiatives with students and community organizations.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Butt worked with nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations in the United States and Kenya and founded The Constaré Group, LLC, a consulting firm focused on sustainable social ventures and cross-sector collaboration. These experiences continue to inform his interest in mission-centered leadership, entrepreneurship, organizational sustainability, and the role of business education in advancing the common good.

Dr. Butt earned a Doctor of Business Administration from DePaul University, a Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University School of Law, and both a Master of Science in Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame. His doctoral research examined entrepreneurial orientation among first- and continuing-generation college graduates. He has presented nationally and internationally on business education, accreditation, curriculum innovation, career development, sustainability, social entrepreneurship, and higher-education leadership.

Share ➤