Derrick Bolton Returns to Stanford GSB as Associate Dean for External Relations

Image

Derrick Bolton, incoming Associate Dean for External Relations | Micaela Go

Stanford Graduate School of Business named Derrick Bolton, MA Education/MBA ’98, as the new Associate Dean for External Relations, starting June 15, 2020.

In his new role, Bolton will lead the alumni relations team and development organization, working to expand the school’s global alumni presence as well as foster and strengthen relationships with Stanford GSB alumni.

“I am delighted to welcome Derrick back to the GSB,” said Jonathan Levin, the Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean of Stanford GSB. “Derrick’s passion for the school and our community is renowned. I look forward to working with him to engage the power and connection of our alumni community at a profound time of change.”

Bolton rejoins Stanford GSB after four years as the head of admission at Stanford’s Knight-Hennessy Scholars program. During that time, he worked with Stanford University President Emeritus John Hennessy, Nike cofounder Phil Knight, MBA ’62, and stakeholders across the university’s seven schools to define the selection criteria for scholars and launch the program in Fall 2018.

Before the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, Bolton spent 15 years as the assistant dean of MBA admissions at Stanford GSB, where he was revered for his commitment — to the job, the school, and the students. He and his team were credited with increasing applications to the school by 55 percent during his tenure, to 8,000 a year. They reviewed more than 100,000 applications and ultimately enrolled over 6,000 students in the program; the women who enrolled during those 15 years represent 45 percent of the school’s women alumni.

“Derrick has an innate ability to build meaningful and lasting relationships,” said Ali Ojjeh, MBA ’95 and cofounder and CEO of The Capital Partnership. “He amplifies the emotional attachment we have to the GSB. It’s why he has made such a lasting impact, and I couldn’t think of someone more well-suited to lead the school’s efforts with alumni.”

Bolton received a bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University and later earned an MBA and MA in education from Stanford. He spent time at McKinsey & Company and Goldman Sachs before accepting a position at Stanford GSB as a director of MBA admissions.