Second Draft -4/8

Pushing Business at University of New England Forward

Dean Norman O’Reilly Putting his Knowledge of Business into the University, Students, and Faculty 

By: Sydney Bishop 

As the newly appointed Dean of the College of Business at the University of New England (UNE), Norman O’Reilly is already making a significant impact. With ambitious goals and a track record of success, O’Reilly is shaping the future of the college and pushing it to new heights.

“He came in here with pretty, you know, large goals and he’s already accomplishing them right from the start” Aimee Vlachos, Ed.D., CPRP a professor and the Program Director of Outdoor Business and Innovation, Teaching Professor

He has pushed a lot in the last 5 months and has many plans for the future, while simultaneously working on getting a further degree through UNE. O’Reilly’s leadership is already being felt at UNE, where he is spearheading the development of a new master’s program in business and a PhD program—initiatives that will strengthen the college’s academic offerings and attract top-tier students. 

“I think that Dean O’Reilly has an incredible grasp of multiple business disciplines, which is incredibly helpful as we build out the College of Business,” Kiernan Gordon, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Sport Leadership & Management and Director of Sport Leadership & Management Program wrote in an email. 

O’Reilly’s academic journey began with a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo in Canada, his home country, driven by his desire to become a better athlete. “And part way through that [Kinesiology] program, I did work term with a national sport organization and then with a big event, and kind of discovered the business of sports,” O’Reilly recalls, this sparked his interest in the business of sport, and also this led him to pursue a Master’s in Sports Administration, an MBA, and a PhD in Marketing, along with a CPA in Accounting. 

O’Reilly’s academic career includes faculty roles at prestigious institutions such as Ohio University (for five years), Stanford (for five years), and Syracuse (for a year). He has authored 20 books, co-authored 14 case studies in the Harvard/Stanford series, and published over 165 peer-reviewed journal articles. Additionally, he has consulted as an expert legal witness. “My PhD thesis eventually I gotta testify to the IRS in a case using it,” O’Reilly says. 

Beyond the college work place, O’Reilly is also a dedicated athlete. He recently achieved a personal goal by qualifying for the IronMan World Championship in Hawaii, proving that his drive for excellence extends beyond academia as a triathlete. 

Students and faculty alike appreciate his visionary approach and his commitment to supporting those around him. “Norm has been incredibly supportive of my ideas,” says Nick Corneau, a Sports Management major with a minor in Business Administration and Coaching. “He’s genuinely interested in seeing students succeed and making things happen.”

Described as a hardworking and visionary leader by his colleagues, O’Reilly refers to himself as an “academic entrepreneur,” a term that reflects his approach to both academia and business. Within the staff at College of Business, Norman O’Reilly has had help creating a set of core values for them to all follow and think about when it comes to their work. 

Known as STRIVES, Student-centered in all our actions, Technology-driven in all our activities, Respect for our community, Innovation in our decision making, Versatile, inclusive, and open in how we operate, Empathy for our faculty and professional staff teammates, and Stewardship for our environment. Dean O’Reilly wants to ensure that student success is at the forefront of his decision-making, while also keeping up with the ever changing world of business. 

“I talked to him about my ideas and things I wanted to do and was supportive and said, ‘let’s make things happen,'” Vlachos said. With his ongoing initiatives and unwavering commitment to student success, O’Reilly is setting a course for UNE to become a leader in business education.

With his large wealth of experience and knowledge, O’Reilly also incorporates this with the classroom at UNE. He currently teaches a Sponsorship night class and has allowed students to start to experience that aspect of business. Whether they are a Marketing major or Sports Management major, giving students the opportunity to use his contacts to gain experience is very important. 

“He takes the class by trying to learn who you are and who you are in the topic which for myself is sponsorship. Norm sets it up with around an hour and thirty to two hours of content then able to apply that into a mini project. He also has great connections where you can be working and talking about top big name companies,” Corneau wrote in an email. 

With his long career and experience, O’Reilly really has a lot of potential to be a great Dean for the College of Business and UNE in general. O’Reilly states, “It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in a job. I mean, the university is great. We are going in a great direction, fully supported.”