State of the School 2025 Highlights
On February 19, Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean Vijay Khatri welcomed the Leeds community to the State of the School 2025 address.
The event brought together alumni, prospective student families, business leaders and the CU Boulder community for an inspiring discussion of Leeds’ progress and vision for the future as it advances the 2035 Leeds Strategic Plan.
A Legacy of Excellence
Dean Khatri started by celebrating Leeds’ legacy of over a century of excellence. From its humble beginnings in the basement of the Guggenheim Law Building to its admission into the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business in 1938, Leeds has experienced decades of milestones while building a reputation for academic rigor, research innovation and adaptability to a constantly evolving business world. Now, in an era of integrated business, Leeds is helping shape how business connects with a wide variety of fields, including engineering, the arts and sciences.
Leeds in Momentum
The address highlighted Leeds' strengths in student excellence, faculty talent and career outcomes, framed within five areas of impact: pipeline, retention and graduation rates; business acumen and career outcomes; well-being of the Leeds community; the Leeds ecosystem; and academic reputation.
“In 2025, we had a record number of applicants in undergraduate programs,” said Khatri. “We had over 16,000 applicants, a 6% increase from the prior year. First-year retention rates have reached 99%, demonstrating Leeds’ dedication to student success.”
Building on its legacy of faculty excellence, Leeds continues to attract top-tier faculty from institutions like Columbia and Duke, ensuring students learn from experts in their fields. Faculty members are highly recognized for their research across all business disciplines, as evidenced by University of Texas at Dallas’ (UTD) Top 100 Business School Research Rankings. Leeds has also been a leader in technological innovation, with more than 45 courses integrating AI to date.
Among its distinctions, Leeds consistently helps students benefit from exposure to industry leaders, with more than 1,300 guest speakers annually and six advisory boards comprising top professionals in their fields.
2035 Leeds: Strategic Priorities
Looking ahead, Dean Khatri outlined key elements of Leeds’ strategic plan.
Impact-Driven Business Education
- Expansion of Design Your Leeds, currently a first-year course, to include additional offerings for third- and fourth-year students.
- Introduction of Career Pathways, featuring Business-Leader-In-Residence engagements to explore career opportunities.
Multifaceted Innovation
- A major anonymous gift is funding the Initiative for Global Business Impact, enhancing Leeds’ world-class research and academic reputation.
- Expansion of collaborative programs, such as the MS in Sustainable Business.
Enrichment of Academic Offerings
- Continued integration of AI into the curriculum, with ongoing impact assessment.
- Expansion of specialized MS programs in high-demand fields.
Culture of Care
- Strengthening community-based learning through partnerships that promote well-being and civic engagement.
- Expanding mentorship opportunities to foster interpersonal skills and student support.
Closing the Gap Between Classroom and Career
Dean Khatri emphasized the importance of helping students bridge academics and real-world application. Programs like the Professional Mentorship Program, one of the largest in the nation, play a critical role.
“If you were to add up the numbers, we have close to 1,000 mentors,” said Khatri. “It is an amazing ecosystem, and it's thanks to this network that our students can launch and succeed in their careers.”
Be a Part of Leeds' Future
Engage with Leeds by connecting with students and others in the community, participating in mentorship programs, attending networking events, and joining in the conversation to help shape the next generation of business leaders.