Caroline Simard Appointed Regional Dean of Silicon Valley Campus
On February 12, 2024, the Silicon Valley campus of Northeastern University welcomes Caroline Simard to the role of Regional Dean.
Dr. Simard brings an outstanding portfolio of academic and non-profit leadership experience to the role, as well as significant tech sector engagement in Silicon Valley.
“Northeastern University embodies the path-breaking spirit that fuels a place like Silicon Valley: a constant focus on learning, collaboration, and problem-solving,” she said of her new role. “I can’t think of a more exciting opportunity to build the future together.”
Her most recent role was Managing Director of Stanford’s VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab. As Managing Director, she secured the $15M philanthropic gift from VMware to establish the lab, secured space on the Stanford campus, oversaw facilities construction, and established a corporate affiliates program of 60 member companies while also driving increased visibility for the Lab in key media outlets.
Prior to that, Simard was Sr. Director of Research at Stanford’s Clayman Institute for Gender Research, where she led applied research efforts and built a robust corporate engagement strategy across Silicon Valley. Earlier experiences include Associate Director for Diversity & Leadership at Stanford Medical School and VP of Research & Executive Programs with the Anita Borg Institute for Women & Technology (AnitaB.org).
Dave Thurman, Regional Dean and CEO at the Seattle campus of Northeastern, notes the depth of experience that Simard brings to the role.
“She routinely serves as a consultant on diversity and organizational change to high technology companies,” Thurman said when sharing news of the appointment. “Throughout her career, Caroline has demonstrated the ability to bring together diverse audiences, build and manage disparate teams, and apply research and policy advances to real-world challenges.”
Simard’s track record of building bridges between academia and industry in the region are a perfect fit for Northeastern’s emphasis on experiential learning and real world impact.
“Northeastern’s global network is a beacon of innovation and impact. I look forward to being a part of bringing the best of what Silicon Valley has to offer to the Husky community,” she said.
The Silicon Valley campus, located in downtown San Jose, offers a portfolio of graduate programs with a focus on serving professionals entering or continuing careers in the tech industry. Occupying several newly-built out floors of classrooms, study areas, and event spaces, the campus currently includes 800 students pursuing master’s degrees in eight programs.