YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Christina Saenger will be the dean of the Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University, effective April 1.
The university announced the appointment Thursday morning. Saenger has served as interim dean since July 2025 and brings experience in academic leadership, strategic planning and business education to the role.
Prior to serving as interim dean, Saenger was associate dean of the college from 2022 to 2025, helping guide its strategic initiatives and academic programs. She joined the YSU faculty in 2014 and has also served as director of faculty relations, where she led efforts related to faculty support and professional concerns and facilitated solutions in support of a collaborative and collegial academic environment.
As interim dean, Saenger has led academic, strategic and operational initiatives during a pivotal period for the college. Her work has focused on advancing the college’s strategic plan, strengthening faculty engagement and expanding access to business education. She has also guided efforts to modernize curriculum, expand online and accelerated programs and strengthen partnerships that support student success and workforce readiness.
“I am honored to serve as dean of the Williamson College of Business Administration,” Saenger said. “Our college has a strong foundation of dedicated faculty, talented students and meaningful community partnerships. I look forward to working together to expand opportunities for our students, foster innovation in business education and strengthen our impact throughout the region.”
As dean, Saenger will provide leadership and administrative oversight for the college’s academic programs, faculty, staff and strategic initiatives. She will guide undergraduate and graduate program development, support scholarly and innovative work within the college and oversee key initiatives related to student recruitment, retention and career readiness.
The role also includes stewardship of the college’s accreditation with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International and leadership of initiatives that strengthen engagement with regional businesses and industry partners.
“Dr. Saenger is a thoughtful and strategic leader who understands both the academic mission and the workforce needs of our region,” YSU Provost Jennifer Adams said. “Her collaborative leadership style, commitment to student success and deep knowledge of business education make her exceptionally well-suited to lead the Williamson College of Business Administration into its next chapter.”
During her tenure as associate dean, Saenger helped lead the redevelopment of the college’s mission and the creation of its 2024-2029 strategic plan, emphasizing access, career readiness and regional impact. She also played a role in securing the extension of the college’s AACSB accreditation and led several curriculum modernization efforts, including the launch of new associate degree programs, updates to the BSBA core curriculum and new MBA specializations.
Saenger earned a doctorate in marketing from Kent State University, a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in strategic marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in business and organizational communication, both from the University of Akron.
Her research focuses on consumer behavior, marketing strategy and word-of-mouth communication and has been published in academic journals including the Journal of Business Research, Psychology & Marketing and the European Journal of Marketing. In addition to her scholarship, she serves on the editorial review boards of several academic journals and remains engaged in professional and academic organizations.