[BU Today] Dean Arun Upneja to Step Down After 13 Years at SHA
Arun Upneja, dean of Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, will step down on July 31 after 13 years leading the school. He will take a one-year sabbatical before returning to SHA’s faculty. Tanya Zlateva, dean of BU’s Metropolitan College, will serve as interim dean starting August 1.
Under Upneja’s leadership, SHA expanded its international partnerships and academic offerings, including the Classroom-to-Classroom initiative connecting BU students with peers at partner universities abroad, and new STEM-certified master’s programs in hospitality management and hospitality real estate. The school also launched the annual SHA Leadership Summit and moved from an unranked program before 2019 into the top tier of US hospitality schools.
Upneja said the timing reflects a natural moment for new leadership. “This transition will allow new leadership to comprehensively review everything we have built and bring a fresh perspective and new energy to guide the school into its next chapter,” he said. After his sabbatical, Upneja plans to return to teaching, work on bridging industry and academic research, and explore how artificial intelligence can take on repetitive tasks in hospitality so professionals can focus more on human connection and guest experience.
- Date: July 1, 2026
- News source: BU Toda