Marquette Business has named Dr. Matteo Arena as the executive associate dean of the College of Business Administration, effective July 1. Arena will oversee faculty affairs within the college and lead AACSB accreditation and continuous improvement efforts.
“The College of Business has a remarkable tradition of excellence, and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve in this new role,” said Arena, professor of finance. “Having spent nearly two decades at Marquette in a variety of faculty and leadership roles, I look forward to supporting our outstanding faculty in their teaching, research and engagement efforts so that we can continue to provide an exceptional educational experience for our students.”
Since he joined Marquette in August 2006, Arena has served in several leadership positions. From 2017 to 2023, he served as chair of the Department of Finance, where he founded the Finance Department Advisory Board, growing it into one of the largest and most active advisory boards in the college. During his time as chair, he also spearheaded the creation and launch of the Master of Science in Finance program. Most recently, Arena served as director of the program and, during Spring 2026, as director of the AIM Investment Banking Track.
College of Business Administration Dean Andrew DeGuire said Arena’s leadership, passion and drive have been felt through the college for nearly 20 years.
“Matteo’s appointment as executive associate dean reflects Marquette Business’ continued commitment to academic excellence, innovation and student success,” DeGuire said. “His extensive leadership experience, scholarly connections within industry and long-standing service to the college position him well to help advance our mission in the years ahead.”
Arena is an internationally recognized expert on the effects of corporate litigation on corporate financial decision-making. He has been published extensively in leading finance journals, including the Review of Financial Studies and the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis. His research has been featured in national media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, The Washington Post and NPR’s Marketplace. He received the College of Business Administration’s Miles Research Fellow Award in 2023.
Prior, Arena worked at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames National Laboratory at Iowa State University. During that time, he helped develop a method for analyzing drinking water aboard the International Space Station, a technique that continues to be used by NASA astronauts today.
Arena earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from the University of Torino in Italy. He then earned an MBA from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Missouri.
Born and raised in Italy, Arena and his wife, who is originally from Canada, have made Whitefish Bay their home and are proud parents of two college students. Outside of work, Arena enjoys running, has competed in triathlons, and plays violin with the Concord Community Orchestra.
