Staff Spotlight: Romana Bucur, Dean's Office
What position do you currently serve at Leavey? Senior Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Global Engagement
Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, exploring and discovering new places/cultures; foreign languages (Romanian, French, Spanish, Italian); reading; cooking; playing video games; binge watching shows; dancing; music (all genres and I have it on at all times); working out; tennis; pickle ball; hot yoga.
Biography: Originally from Romania, I moved to the U.S. at 18 on a tennis scholarship to play for Longwood University, a small Virginia school transitioning from Division 3 to Division 1, where I was their first international recruit. My roots in Romania are deep—I'm married to a fellow Romanian, and with my family still there, I make it a point to visit annually.
I hold a Master of Business Administration with a focus on Global Market Research from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Longwood University. Additionally, I am a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
In December 2022, I moved from Virginia to California to start my new role at the Leavey School of Business, where I am dedicated to enhancing the school's international visibility, strategic partnerships, and providing students with impactful global exposure. This transition was marked by a memorable cross-country drive with my husband, which was a fantastic experience in itself. My background includes over a decade at Virginia Commonwealth University, where I led international programs and special projects, significantly boosting global engagement and enriching the impactful international experiences we offered.
My evolution from a collegiate athlete to a leader in global business education has been profoundly influenced by my personal journey, the great people I've met, and my commitment to always saying yes to new experiences and stepping outside of my comfort zone. I am also a firm believer in the transformative power of global experiences. Being exposed to diverse people and customs from other countries has enriched my perspective and fuels my commitment to fostering international understanding and cooperation in education.
Advice for Undergraduate Students: "Embrace every experience and interaction as an opportunity for growth. Adapt empowering advice to suit your unique voice. Approach each day without expectations, and support your decisions with love and freedom. Have fun discovering where the journey takes you. Traveling and studying abroad can greatly enrich this journey, offering invaluable perspectives and experiences that shape who you become."