Kate Klepper to Join Babson as Dean of the Graduate School

Kate Klepper has been named the new dean of Babson College’s F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business.

“The Graduate School plays a central role in advancing Babson’s mission to educate entrepreneurial leaders who create economic and social value around the world,” said Provost and Executive Vice President Ariel Armony. “Kate brings deep experience in graduate management education, program innovation, and strategic partnership development that will play an essential role in our approach to building the future of graduate education at Babson.”

Klepper joins Babson from Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business, where she has served as the associate dean for graduate business programs for more than two decades. In her time leading at the university, she has overseen a broad portfolio of graduate business programs and led major initiatives in curriculum innovation, delivery systems, and global partnerships with a focus on aligning academic programs with shifting workforce needs. Her career reflects a powerful combination of strategic vision and exceptional operational leadership, having managed large teams, overseen multimillion-dollar budgets, and led key initiatives such as AACSB reaccreditation and comprehensive curriculum reviews.

“Kate’s leadership at Northeastern supporting the development of new graduate program platforms that place an emphasis on customizable, flexible learning pathways will play an important role in contributing to Babson’s approach to effectively responding to evolving market demands,” said Armony.  

The appointment of Klepper to dean of the Graduate School marks a fitting return to Wellesley, having previously served as Babson’s dean of graduate admissions prior to joining Northeastern. In this capacity, she led strategic marketing and enrollment initiatives and strengthened recruitment efforts for diverse student populations.

Klepper holds an MBA from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her leadership in graduate school management goes beyond her role as associate dean. She previously held leadership roles with the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), where she served on the board of directors and as chair.  

The addition of the new dean of the Graduate School marks the second academic leadership appointment at Babson this academic year. Poonam Arora was named dean of the Undergraduate School last semester and joined the community this spring. Klepper will arrive on campus in June.