This academic year marks Robert Whitelaw’s 33rd year at NYU Stern, and the end of his tenure as vice dean of the Stern Undergraduate College (UC), which he started in 2018 first serving for one year under UC Dean Geeta Menon. The popular professor came to Stern straight from earning a PhD in finance at Stanford. His courses for Stern’s programs included portfolio management, investments/capital markets, and international finance. Under Whitelaw’s vice dean leadership, the UC has initiated a number of new academic programs and degrees, expanded financial support for deserving students and opportunities for experiential learning, whether in New York City or internationally, introduced a new approach to global immersion, and created a community building program known as the Stern Experience Series for each class year. Whitelaw sat down with STERN BUSINESS to talk about his many accomplishments during his tenure and his reflections on stepping down.

Robert Whitelaw at the Undergraduate College commencement ceremony

You have accomplished so much during your time as vice dean of the Undergraduate College. What are you most proud of?

It’s not just me, or even primarily me; I’m perhaps a coordinator. Credit goes to the University, School leadership, UC senior leadership, UC staff, faculty, students, alumni. As the quote goes, you try to leave this world a little better than you found it. 

There were many accomplishments. We introduced a new program in Business, Technology and Entrepreneurship (BTE) that had tons of applications and an incredibly successful launch. The First Year in London (FYLO) opportunity at NYU London is also very popular. We did a major global programs review and have instituted a new global experience requirement, along with a financial aid system to allow students to take advantage of the additional opportunities we have added to allow students to satisfy this requirement; and a new capstone course for the BS in Business that is NYC-based and experiential. We have extended the Signature Experience Series of orientation-like programming for all years, not just freshmen, which really adds to the sense of community that is a hallmark of Stern. The Berkley Achievement Scholars program further expands support for talented students with financial need from across the U.S. And we have brought the Commerce and Culture first-semester writing course in-house and oriented it more toward management communications. Everything we do is about building on who we are—the spirit, the culture. We are proud of what we’ve built, and sustaining that is incredibly rewarding.

What role have the ‘Five Pillars’ played in leading the Undergraduate College?

The Five Pillars—academics, social impact, global, professional, and community—are themes that underlie the student experience and offer a framework for a coherent vision of what we do. Each pillar is a promise and an expectation: for example, the academic pillar is a promise as to what we will deliver—a world-class education—and an expectation–that we expect our students to approach their experience with honesty and integrity. The Pillars also provide a scaffolding to guide students in how to approach their education here and to help them frame what they’ve learned here, for example, in job interviews. It’s unbelievably valuable to have that coherence.

You like to use the phrase “one student at a time.” What do you mean by that?

Stern is a big School, the undergraduate program is a big program (roughly 2,800 students). We always strive to do more with less, but each student is unique in their own way. “One student at a time” is a recognition of that—that we treat them as individuals, we are willing to listen. Sometimes one-on-one experiences can have the most impact. We have made a commitment to meet with any student who wants to meet—if they want to make an appointment with me, they can.

What do you hope students take with them when they graduate?

I would hope they have had a chance to explore and find their passion, and that they retain a passion for lifelong learning. Also that they have developed a global perspective that will set them up to successfully navigate this evolving world. That they understand the potential of business as a force for good and act on that understanding. And that they realize that Stern UC education is not just a transactional experience but a community that they can take with them and rely on for support.

What do you like about Stern’s culture that has kept you here?

When I graduated with my PhD and looked for a faculty position, I identified Stern as a place that would care about me, where my research would be supported and faculty would respect each other, want the best for each other, for the students, for the school. UC is a sub-community within Stern, motivated by a similar set of goals, people who are smart and committed. We are all doing this together. What is amazing about the UC team is that they are not willing to rest on their laurels. They are also looking to innovate. What can we do better? What worked and what didn’t work? How can we improve the student experience, the way we do our jobs? They embrace feedback. Also, they are not afraid to take a risk. Hopefully, because, in part, they realize that failing is okay. As long as we learn from our mistakes, get up, and move on.

You’re known for your ability to put people at ease. What’s your secret?

I’m flattered. That’s a tough question to answer. People should know I respect them, value them for who they are, and also that, though I take my job seriously, I don’t take myself too seriously. I think I have benefited from being put at a young age into situations where I was different. As a child, I was an English kid growing up in Ireland. Then as a teenager, I was an English kid in a U.S. high school in central Virginia. You learn to be comfortable in different environments and develop ways to make people feel comfortable—I inherited a self-deprecating sense of humor from my father, which helped.

You’ve said that “deans are people too.” Tell us a little about Robert Whitelaw the person.

Let’s see. I’m English, so of course I have a favorite footballer—most recently, Harry Kane, a striker for England’s national team who used to play for Spurs. I have two children, both young adults, and for vacation, we are heading to Mont Tremblant to ski. We take full advantage of living in New York City—the zoos when they were younger, and then sporting events, shows, and food…we love food, whether Chinatown, Astoria for Greek food, or Koreatown. Our favorite bagel place is Bagel Bob’s on University Place, and for pizza, definitely Arturo’s, on Houston. I love to make dessert; triple lemon cake is my specialty, and, as an entrée, Julia Child’s boeuf bourguignon. And of course, because I am English, I’m a tea drinker. Lately, Irish Breakfast and Lapsang Souchong are my go-to’s. Sometimes I even travel with my own tea supply.

What’s next for you at Stern, and what are your hopes for the future of the UC?

I’ll be on sabbatical next year, so, after a well-earned break, I’ll definitely devote some time to my research agenda, which has been sadly neglected, but also do some introspection. As for the UC, I’m leaving it in great hands with Rohit and all the staff. I feel confident that the UC will continue to innovate and lead change in true Stern fashion.