Gregory P. Prastacos is a Professor of Management Science at the Stevens School of Business, where he also served as Dean for 12 years (2012-2024). He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s in computer science and a doctorate in operations research, all from Columbia University. Before joining Stevens he was Professor of Management Science and Rector of the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), Athens, Greece. Prior to AUEB, he was on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He has held visiting appointments at a number of Universities and Research Institutes in Europe and Asia.

Dr. Prastacos’ research interests are in the areas of analytics, innovation and technology management, and digital transformation. He has published 11 books and monographs and more than 60 papers in international academic journals and edited volumes. His papers have appeared in some of the top journals in his field, such as Management Science, Operations Research, Journal of Management, Journal of Business Ethics, Information and Management, Long Range Planning, and others. His book on “Managerial Decision Making” has been translated in Chinese and published by Tsinghua University Press (2011). His (co-edited) book on “Leadership through the Classics” has been published by Springer (2013). His most recent (co-edited) book on “Leading and Managing in the Digital Era” is published by Springer (2024).

For his work on the logistics of perishable inventory he has been awarded the Edelman Award by TIMS/INFORMS. For his work on financial management under uncertainty, he has been awarded the 1st prize of the Hellenic OR Society. His work on blood inventory management has been cited in the centennial issue of Science as exemplary OR work internationally. His work on competency modeling has been used worldwide as a basis for successful HR practice. His work on absorptive capacity has been selected among the best papers of the Academy of Management. In 2008, INFORMS honored him with an Honorary Medal for significant achievements in Operations Research. Throughout his career he has received numerous teaching excellence and exceptional contribution awards (2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010).

Dr. Prastacos possesses significant academic leadership experience. As dean at Stevens (since February 2012), he launched a number of initiatives that transformed the school from a School of Technology Management to an accredited and ranked School of Business. Since he joined Stevens, new undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs were launched, undergraduate and graduate enrollments have increased significantly, and a best-ever retention rate of 95% and a record placement record of 100% have been achieved. The number of research-active faculty has tripled, while publications in the FT50 journals have increased by 450%. Fundraising has significantly increased, two endowed chairs have been pledged and filled. A number of faculty support and student-centric initiatives were been put in place, and international agreements were signed. Outreach to industry grew with advisory boards across all programs, and multiple cohorts running executive programs with a number of Fortune 500 companies. In May 2015, the school was granted accreditation by AACSB, the first non-STEM related accreditation in Stevens’ 140 years of history, was formally renamed to the School of Business, and started appearing in national rankings. In February 2021 the school was ranked by US News no. 68 among the best business schools in the country, its online MBA was ranked no. 35, its online (non-MBA) programs were ranked no. 14, and its online MBA Analytics program was ranked no. 16 in the country.

As Rector of AUEB (2007-2011) he spearheaded the internationalization of the university, increased the number of graduate programs offered, enhanced the research activity and funding, established the alumni association of the University, and significantly enhanced the university’s outreach efforts. Fundraising increased significantly, both from the private and public sectors. Νew fully computerized online registration and administrative systems were installed, increasing drastically the efficiency and level of service to faculty and students. The Business Confucius Institute of Athens, the International Entrepreneurship Chair, and several joint academic programs with European Universities through the EU program Hermes were established, increasing significantly AUEB’s international outreach and impact. A new internal research funding program from the University’s savings was established to support junior faculty research. During his term, the number of high-quality research publications was increased by 49% and the number of editorial positions by faculty by 29%. The profile of the University was significantly raised through active promotion, excellence campaigns and international recognitions. A number of important CSR and outreach activities took place, including the adoption of AUEB’s first strategy for the environment, the re-launch of AUEB’s alumni association, the promotion of UN’s Global Compact initiative, activities to assist during the economic crisis, and an increase in corporate outreach.

Prior to becoming Rector at AUEB, he was the founding director (1999-2007) of AUEB’s International MBA Program (www.imba.aueb.gr), widely considered as the No. 1 MBA program in Greece. During his term, the program was accredited by AMBA (2005), gained international visibility, appeared in international rankings (2006), and grew to attract students from more than 25 countries. In 2010 the school was awarded “The Most Innovative Business School in Southern Europe, 2010”. Dr. Prastacos was also the founding director (2000-2011) of AUEB’s Management Science Laboratory (www.msl.aueb.gr), a leading ISO-certified management research center in Europe, that has attracted significant funding from the European Union and other national and private funding organizations.

Dr. Prastacos has significant consulting experience. As an independent consultant, as well as an ex-Senior Partner and Chairman of Deloitte’s Management Consulting Practice in Greece (1997-2002), he has helped numerous organizations to develop strategies and systems and improve performance through organizational restructuring, IT systems and strategy, personnel development, balanced scorecard strategies, etc. The organizations he has worked with include major companies in banking, insurance, airline, airport management, postal services, health, mining, Internet service providers, and municipalities.

Dr. Prastacos is the Co-Chair of AACSB’s Digital Transformation Affinity Group and the Principal Investigator of MaCuDE – an international program sponsored by AACSB and supported by more than 100 business schools globally to revise the management curriculum for the digital era. He is an elected Fellow of the Washington Academy of Sciences, serves on the editorial board of several academic journals, and is on the board of his home school, Athens College. He has previously served on the Board of NEBDA, the Northeast Business Deans Association, Co-Chairman of the Business Confucius Institute of Athens, a joint initiative between Greece and China, and has been on the Board of Directors (BoD) of the Hellenic Management Association, the BoD of the Hellenic OR Society, the BoD of the Onassis Foundation (USA), the Scientific Council of the Greek National Economic Research Institute, as well as the BoD’s of a number of companies. He is a frequent speaker to conferences, and an advisor to universities and private industry.