Erik Rolland - dean of the College of Business Administration (CBA) and interim dean of the College of the Extended University (CEU) - will be the next president of the University of the Bahamas. The University of the Bahamas Board of Trustees first made the announcement on March 15. Rolland assumes his appointment as president on Aug. 1.

Rolland came to Cal Poly Pomona as dean of CBA in 2016, and in 2020 he took on the additional role of interim dean of CEU as part of a broad and inclusive effort to reimagine the college and its mission.

During Rolland's tenure, CBA achieved historic improvements in graduation rates across all categories as well as dramatic increases in enrollment, including ninefold among graduate students over four years. His leadership and vision proved instrumental in CPP's transition from quarters to semesters in 2018, as well as in the successful AACSB reaccreditation of the CBA in 2020.

Rolland has also actively promoted engagement and partnerships with outside organizations, expanding the university's visibility in the region. In particular, he led creation of the annual regional Economic Forecast Summit. Now in its sixth year, the summit brings together industry experts to consider the global economic outlook, the state of business in the San Gabriel Valley, and how the region is creating economic opportunities.

Prior to joining Cal Poly Pomona, Rolland held academic and leadership positions at the University of California campuses in Riverside and Merced and at the Ohio State University. He also served four years as an officer in the Royal Norwegian Army.

Rolland is set to continue his leadership roles through the end of the current academic year. The recruitment for the next dean of the College of Business Administration is already underway.