About the Dean

Ron Dufresne, Ph.D. is a scholar, educator, and academic leader with more than two decades of experience advancing mission-driven business education. He was appointed dean of the Providence College School of Business in July 2026 and is a professor of management. Previously a professor of management at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. Dufesne is a first-generation college graduate who studied engineering management with a concentration in mechanical engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He then served as a Military Intelligence Officer in the United States Army. After his service, he worked in industry as an operations manager before attending Boston College, where he earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in organization studies, focusing on leadership.

At Saint Joseph’s University, Dr. Dufresne earned awards for his teaching, research, service, and advising. He served as department chair, president of the university faculty senate, chair of the business school council, and as a senior leadership fellow. His teaching and research focus on leadership, with particular interests in ethical leadership and character development. His research has won awards from both the Academy of Management as well as the National Communication Association.

He was previously the founding director of an undergraduate program (major and minor) in leadership, ethics, & organizational sustainability. This program prepares students to use business as a force for good, with a capstone course using Catholic Social Teaching as a foundation; in 2018, HR.com named the program the #1 leadership program in the country. He has extensive experience in executive education, working with leaders at companies such as Wawa, Comcast, SEI, Jefferson Health, and Kennedy Health; one of his co-designed programs earned the LEAD Award for Innovation in the Development of a Leadership Program (non-credit).

As department chair, Dr. Dufresne oversaw five on-campus undergraduate programs, one online undergraduate nontraditional student program, two graduate programs, as well as four graduate certificates. These programs were recognized by US News as being the #36 undergraduate management programs and #13 MBA (management tracks).