Dr. Ali Dastmalchian first joined the faculty in 1991 as director of MBA programs; He left to become Dean of the Faculty of Management at the University of Lethbridge from 1996 to 2001 and returned to UVic in 2002 as Dean of the Business School.  After 10 successful years as Dean, on June 30th, 2012 he will step down.

Ali’s accomplishments as Dean have been tremendous: naming of the School and Graduate programs, launching PhD and MGB programs, creating a  culture of engagement and collaboration within the school and with the community and helping the school achieve EQUIS and AACSB accreditation are but a few of his many accomplishments.  In addition, throughout his tenure as Dean he was an active researcher and continued to teach in the MBA program and with executive programs throughout the world.

Ali you are a terrific leader, builder and friend. If you ever want a job in the private sector let me know.
David (David Black)

Working with Ali was a terrific experience.  Positive, thoughtful and strategic, he had an amazing ability to help the faculty develop a strong sense of its strengths and directions.  Always optimistic, willing to take some risks, and unfailingly respectful of his colleagues, he has made a huge difference for his faculty.  I learned a great deal from Ali and genuinely enjoyed working together.
Jamie Cassels
Professor of Law
Faculty of Law, University of Victoria

Ali has been an amazing Dean for 10 years and also an important leader in so many aspects at UVIC and beyond.  Ali gained the trust and respect of many people in our business community as his character, tenacity, intelligence and charm helped him lead the business faculty to new a level. Ali will continue to be a kindly force and a revealing power for many decades to come at the Gustavson School of Business.
Dave
(Dave Schneider)

Ali is an amazing Dean and leaves extremely big shoes to fill! He is extremely bright, hardworking, passionate and a great leader. I have learned a great deal from Ali over the years and will miss him dearly. I wish him all the best in this next chapter of his life.
Sincerely,
Sybil
Sybil Verch, B.Comm, CSWP, FCSI, CIM

My favourite memory from my 15 years at the Faculty of Business is the day I received the news that you had accepted the position of Dean and would be returning to the faculty where you always belonged. You have taken the faculty to great heights and deserve all the praise that that I constantly hear. It is not often that a dean can command the respect of the students, the faculty, the staff, other faculties and the administration all at the same time and continually. I know of no other dean who has been able to successfully administer a faculty while continuing to produce outstanding research and maintain teaching responsibilities. Superhuman! Absolutely superhuman! I must also sing praises to your family who have been so supportive considering your extended work ethic that usually encompassed 15 hour days of concentrated work. Without their sacrifice your accomplishments would be much less. Thank you for your friendship, inspiration and advice while working with you from the birth of the faculty in 1991/1992 to the recent era. Ricki and I wish you so much happiness for the future. Hopefully you can provide advice to other faculties around the globe who need a formula and strategy to to succeed. - Bill Buckwold

Ali, you made me feel a welcome part of the family, even though on the org chart I might be the equivalent of distant cousin.  I wish you continued success and happiness in all your endeavours. - Tammy Ruffolo, B-LINK

Ali, thank you so much for the opportunity to work for and learn from you for over 10 years! You have been a mentor, a leader and a shining example to us all.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the next year of quality time with your family and operating in other areas of your hugely successful career.
I look forward to working with you in the future, and examining any new additions to your strange hat, whirly toy and backward clock collection.
Best wishes for health, happiness and victory!
From the heart of your schedule, Shannon.
(Shannon Perdigao)

I met Ali Dastmalchian when I came to UVic as a 42 year old boatbuilder wanting to enter the new MBA program at UVic.  I wanted to change my life.  Today, I am a 63 year old professor at California State University, East Bay.  Thank you, Ali, for helping me change my life.  Your respect, your care and your assistance led me on a journey where I have assisted thousands of young people who also want to change their lives.  It is great work.    
Brian McKenzie BA, MBA, PhD
Associate Professor (Entrepreneurship)
California State University

No doubt many people will thank you for all of your work at strengthening the Gustavson School and improving UVic generally, and I share those sentiments, but also let me thank you very much for your annual enthusiastic support of the World Partnership Walk.
- Ralph

Wanted to wish you the best in the future and congratulate you on 10 successful years at UVic. I am so happy I got to work at UVic while you were Dean. That's still my favourite job I have had! Congrats again on your 10 years!
- Sheryl Zornes

Dean Ali, 
Thanks for taking the time to go for coffee with me to chat about the MBA program and my career aspirations. I really appreciated the one-on-one time.
Best wishes for the future,
Erick Pay (BA, BRMCD, MBA (cand.)

I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with Ali for three years at UVic.  Ali is an exceptional leader whose inclusive and empowering style inspires many to excel.  I envy anyone who has the opportunity to work with Ali in whatever capacity.
- Mike Valente  

I have had the opportunity to work with some great deans around the globe in Spain, Costa Rica and Canada.  However, Ali tops them all as he consistently exhibited a dedication to building an inclusive culture and a global brand for the UVIC's Gustavson School of Business.  I always considered him a mentor and friend and his impact on me, UVIC, and the business community is "priceless".

Boyd Cohen, Ph.D.
CEO, CO2 IMPACT
Adjunct Professor, UBC

I always credit Ali with inspiring me to pursue my MBA; I will always remember fondly how, over a chance lunch meeting, he managed to convince me without the slightest amount of pressure. Such is Ali’s gift of connecting with people. Thanks.
- Nav Bassi, MBA, PMP, ITIL

I have been asked to be a guest tweeter for a local company and I am using the framework I developed when Ali was my Faculty Advisor for my MBA Final Research Report. Thanks to Ali's mentorship the ideas he helped me to articulate four years ago are still relevant.
- Cindy Vallance

Help celebrate Ali Dastmalchian’s Decade as Dean and sign his yearbook.  
Send us your favourite memory, wishes for his future, thanks for his service and anything else in between.
The comments will be compiled and presented to Ali as a keepsake.

Selected pages of the yearbook will appear in the upcoming issue of Business Class Magazine and on the Gustavson website.

Word Count:  50 words max.
Send to:  businfo@uvic.ca

1. Built a positive, healthy culture, a culture of high engagement and collaboration, can-do spirit, a culture and place to work that attracts and keeps good people
2. Naming of the School and Graduate programs
3. Launched the PhD and MGB programs
4. Launched “S” pillar.  Fostered sustainability and social responsibility to become part of our core values.
5. Grew the Business School – students, faculty and staff
6. Increased community engagement and support.  Revitalized the Board of Advisers and Mentors program.
7. Expanded international partnerships, grew the exchange program.
8. Earned accreditations – Equis and AACSB
9. Built Executive Programs
10. Developed a Vision, Strategy and Promise for the School; implemented systems and structures to facilitate their implementation.