The inaugural dean of the University of New England’s College of Business is leaving after just over a year to join the University of Florida, with the college’s associate dean taking over on an interim basis.
Norm O’Reilly, who has led the college since 2024, will leave UNE on Aug. 28 after accepting a faculty position at the University of Florida.
Amir Mousavian, the college’s associate dean and professor of supply chain management, will become acting dean effective July 13 as the university maps out its long-term leadership plans.
During O’Reilly’s tenure, UNE’s College of Business, which launched in 2023, expanded to 10 undergraduate majors and eight minors, launched its first graduate program through an online MBA developed with the College of Professional Studies and graduated its first class.
The college also established three academic centers focused on sport and business innovation, sales excellence and supply chain management, while creating the Spark Business Series to connect students with business leaders. The initiative led to partnerships with organizations including the Maine Mariners and Atlantic Hospitality.
The college also joined the Babson Collaborative for Entrepreneurship Education, expanded entrepreneurship programming and introduced the undergraduate major in outdoor business and innovation.
About Mousavian
Mousavian joined UNE in 2024 as associate dean and has helped develop new academic programs in supply chain management, economics, finance and trading analytics. He also worked with the Office of Career Readiness and Workforce Development to launch Industry Exploration Day, a universitywide employer networking event that debuted in 2025.
Before joining UNE, Mousavian held faculty and leadership positions at Clarkson University’s Reh School of Business, where he oversaw accreditation and assessment initiatives. Throughout his tenure, he held several key leadership roles.
An accomplished researcher and internationally recognized expert-educator in supply chain management, Amir has authored numerous scholarly publications and has extensive experience working with industry partners on complex operational and logistics challenges.
The University of New England has campuses in Biddeford and Portland, which house Maine’s only medical school, as well as overseas in Tangier, Morocco.
Among Maine’s largest colleges and universities, UNE was ranked No. 7 in the most recent Mainebiz Book of Lists, with 2,082 undergraduate students. Rankings were based on undergraduate full-time enrollment in fall 2025.
