Michigan Ross Appoints Nicholas Hamilton-Archer as New Chief Executive Education Officer
On March 6, 2023, Nicholas Hamilton-Archer assumed his new role as Chief Executive Education Officer for Michigan Ross Executive Education.
Bringing more than 15 years of experience working in higher education and a family background of educators, Hamilton-Archer joins the Michigan Ross community with a sustained passion for life-long learning.
It’s truly an honor to call the incredible faculty and staff here at the Ross School of Business my colleagues, and I know that collectively we’ll continue to succeed at building a better world through business education.
Hamilton-Archer came to Michigan Ross from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, where he served as the Executive Director of Executive Education since 2019. He has also held leadership positions in executive education programs at the University of Colorado, the University of Pittsburgh, and George Mason University.
Hamilton-Archer earned both a bachelor’s degree in government and international politics and a master’s of public administration from George Mason University and additionally holds a master’s in international business from the University of Colorado Denver.
Below, Hamilton-Archer answers a variety of questions about his background, his thoughts on the current and future landscapes of executive education, and more.
What are you most excited about in your new role as Chief Executive Education Officer?
There is so much I’m excited for – working for a world-renowned public university, leading a division that’s been a standard of excellence within executive education, and being part of a thriving and entrepreneurial community of students and alumni. It’s truly an honor to call the incredible faculty and staff here at the Ross School of Business my colleagues, and I know that collectively we’ll continue to succeed at building a better world through business education.
What aspects of Michigan Ross and the University of Michigan drew you to this position?
Ever since I started my career, Michigan Ross’ reputation among its peers and its longstanding leadership role in executive education has always stood out to me. I have deep admiration for the school’s mission to empower business leaders to make a positive difference in the world and the ways in which it delivers engaging programs to students and lifelong learners.
Equally attractive is the school’s role within the University of Michigan, which is globally recognized for academic excellence, research, and innovation. The U-M community offers many rich, diverse opportunities to have a rewarding and fulfilling career.
My family and I are eager to immerse ourselves in the community, continue to meet and engage with colleagues, and make Ann Arbor our new home.
What inspired you to pursue a career in higher education?
I come from a family of educators who inspired me from a young age to remain curious and have a sustained passion for learning. Within higher education, I have worked with learners at all levels and enjoy creating opportunities that inspire lifelong learning. While in undergrad, I had the opportunity to work closely with our Board of Visitors and executive leadership as our university was growing. Watching great leaders execute a vision for enriching the lives of students, faculty, and staff inspired me to pursue a career in higher education.
What are some top priorities you hope to address in your new role?
Michigan Ross Executive Education is highly regarded for offering innovative and high-impact programs across the country and around the world. I want us to build on those successes by growing our program portfolio to deliver the exceptional Michigan Ross Executive Education experience to more lifelong learners and corporate clients. I hope to establish new partnerships and re-engage with colleagues and units across campus to collaborate on new programs that bring together the brightest minds that the University of Michigan has to offer.
What are some key trends in the business landscape that you believe are shaping executive education?
One of the key trends that we’ve seen take center stage in recent years is the growing demand for programming that can demonstrate impact and meaningful growth for both the individual enrolled in executive education and the organization sponsoring its leadership to pursue executive education. A second key trend we’ve seen is the demand for executive education curricula that helps leaders navigate emerging and disruptive technology topics such as AI and Machine Learning. As technology pushes the boundaries of what businesses can do, organizations want to ensure that their leaders have the skills and expertise to leverage these tools at scale.
What does being a purpose-driven leader mean to you?
Being a purpose-driven leader begins with embodying the mission of your institution and cultivating a culture of collaboration that is built on trust, respect, and inclusion. To accomplish that, you need to lead your team with compassion, transparency, and accountability.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time, and what are you looking forward to doing the most in Ann Arbor?
Free time for me is all about spending time with my spouse and our daughters. The girls’ activities keep us busy on weekends, but we also love to travel internationally as a family and explore the world through our daughters’ eyes. We’re big fans of sports, particularly basketball and tennis. My family and I are looking forward to exploring the museums and the outdoors, as well as catching sports games and shows in Ann Arbor and the greater Detroit area. It’s exciting to be able to catch both college (go Blue!) and professional basketball (go Pistons!) games now that we’re moving to Ann Arbor.
What is one fun fact you want people to know about you?
I love to travel and find that I am quite comfortable in navigating new and unfamiliar places.
