Tuvana Rua, PhD, associate professor of management and Tamilla Triantoro, PhD, associate professor of business analytics and information systems, have been named co-directors of Quinnipiac University’s M&T Bank Center for Women & Business.

Rua, of Trumbull, will focus on leading the center’s programs and initiatives to advance opportunities for professional development and networking. Triantoro will concentrate on developing research-based strategic initiatives that advance the center’s thought leadership.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to serve alongside Tamilla Triantoro and continue the success and reputation of the Center built under the leadership of Julia Fullick and Kiku Jones,” Rua said. “I am specifically looking forward to building ties with the leaders in our community to provide unique and meaningful opportunities for women in business and their allies.”

Rua brings to the position her scholarship and expertise in innovative programming, such as leading the QU/ConnCORP adult entrepreneurship academy.

Rua, who joined Quinnipiac in 2019, teaches in the areas of management, decision-making and leadership. Her research focuses on decision-making in negotiations, groups and ethics across cultures. She frequently presents at national and international conferences her research on moral identity, self-control and ethical behavior.

Rua received her doctorate in business from the City University of New York.

Triantoro, of Stamford, brings her expertise in research on artificial intelligence and passion for research-based insights that inform the future of work to the center.

“I am thrilled to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to empowering women and promoting gender equity in the business world,” she said. “Through thought leadership and research initiatives, we will continue the legacy of providing the resources, skills and networks that women need to thrive in their careers and become leaders in their fields. Our vision is a world where gender is not a barrier to success, and we are committed to making that vision a reality.”

Triantoro is an author, speaker and researcher in the fields of AI, data analytics, user experience with technology and the future of work. She received her PhD from the City University of New York.

Triantoro presents her research around the world, advancing understanding of the complexity of today's digital world and making it relevant for business. She joined Quinnipiac in 2017.

The appointments come following inclusive and extensive stakeholder and community conversations with Holly Raider, dean of QU’s School of Business, and Poonam Arora, the school’s associate dean of faculty affairs, who listened to ideas about the vision for the Center, its priorities and future direction. The directors plan to broaden the center’s work to include more professional development for current students and working professionals and to build research-based thought leadership.

“Gender equity in the workplace remains one of the grand opportunities of our time,” Raider said. “Professors Rua and Triantoro will be leading the M&T Bank Center for Women & Business into a bold future of thought leadership, insights and programs that advance the professional success of women.”

The M&T Bank Center for Women and Business is dedicated to bringing together a community of women and their allies who are focused on achieving their professional goals and sharing their wisdom and experiences with each other through skill-building workshops, motivational events and networking opportunities.

“The future for women in business is hopeful as we continue to prioritize equity and create a world where successful women are not the exception but the norm,” Arora added. “Under the thoughtful leadership of Professors Rua and Triantoro, the M&T Bank Center for Women & Business will prioritize programs, research and insights that empower and open the doors of opportunity for all women.”