Undergraduate Convocation Ceremony Program for the Class of 2025
Convocation Speakers
Susan Fournier
Allen Questrom Professor and Dean
Professor, Marketing
Susan Fournier joined the faculty at Boston University Questrom School of Business in 2005 as an Associate Professor of Marketing and Dean’s Research Fellow. In the ensuing years, she advanced through the faculty ranks and was named Questrom Professor in Management in 2013. She has been an influential member of the community in her varied roles as an educator, researcher, and administrator.
As Questrom’s first academic dean in over 40 years, Susan has the benefit of an inside perspective. She brings a wealth of personal experience in academia with over 24 years in the Undergrad, MBA and Executive classrooms of Harvard Business School, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, and Questrom. She is a celebrated professor who designed and delivered one of Questrom’s Top 10 MBA electives. She recently served as Senior Associate Dean of Faculty & Research, and was a prior Faculty Director of the Questrom MBA and Doctoral programs. She is an award-winning researcher with an in-depth knowledge of the research and publication enterprises, what it takes to produce “research that matters,” how to bring that knowledge into the classroom, and what it takes to translate academic research for the most significant impact on practice—facets critical to understand in the pursuit of creating value for the world.
Susan is also the first woman dean at Questrom, marking a significant moment in our history. She is “looking forward to a time when this descriptor is not considered a unique attribute.” Of equal importance, Susan is a first-generation college student. This status gives her meaningful insight as Questrom continues to focus on diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the School’s life.
Jeff Furman
Professor, Strategy & Innovation Department
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Program
Jeffrey L. Furman is Professor of Strategy & Innovation and Associate Dean of the Questrom Undergraduate Program at Boston University and a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). He completed his Ph.D. at MIT-Sloan and holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and a B.A. in Psychology from its College of Arts & Sciences.
Furman’s research addresses issues at the intersection of Strategy, International Business, and Innovation. His recent projects examine the strategic management of science-based firms, the impact of institutions on cumulative innovation, and science and innovation policy. Jeff’s research has been accepted for publication in the American Economic Review (AER), the Review of Economics & Statistics, Organization Science, the American Economic Journal, the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization (JEBO), Research Policy, Industrial & Corporate Change (ICC), and Nature, among others. He has also served on the editorial review boards of the Journal of International Business Studies (JIBS), Strategic Organization! (SO!), Journal of Management, and Industry & Innovation. Jeff is an active member of the Academy of Management (AOM), is a board member of the CCC, and has served as reviewer, presenter, discussant, and session chair at AOM annual meetings and has served as a member of the BPS Division Executive Committee. Furman also co-organizes the weekly Productivity Seminar, which meets at the NBER.
Miri Chan
BSBA Candidate, Class of 2025
Miri Chan is graduating with honors from the Questrom School of Business with concentrations in Marketing and Business Analytics. On campus, Miri has served as the President of the Guerrilla Marketing Society, Vice President of Marketing for Alpha Kappa Psi, Professional Development Director of the Fashion & Retail Association, and Public Relations Director for BU’s Off the Cuff Magazine. She has also served as a Teaching Assistant for Principles of Marketing (MK200), ES110, ES310, and as a Career Skills Coach in the Feld Center. Beyond BU, she was named the Top Recipient of the National Retail Federation Foundation’s Next Generation Scholarship and now sits on the Board of Directors of the NRF Foundation. Upon graduation, Miri will be moving to New York City to begin her full time role as a part of the RL Iconic Rotational Program at Ralph Lauren.
Julian McCluney
BSBA ’02, MBA ’09
Julien McCluney is an accomplished brand marketing executive with a proven track record of driving growth, innovation, and brand transformation across leading consumer goods companies. She currently serves as Vice President of Brand Management at Newell Brands, where she leads the Kitchen division, overseeing a portfolio of iconic household names including Rubbermaid, Calphalon, Crock-Pot, Mr. Coffee, and Ball. In this role, she is responsible for brand strategy, product innovation, and business performance across multiple categories within a multibillion-dollar segment.
Prior to joining Newell, Julien spent 14 years at Hasbro, where she held progressively senior leadership roles and spearheaded brand storytelling, franchise development, and global marketing initiatives. Her strategic and creative leadership earned her recognition as one of Mojo Nation’s Top 100 Most Influential Figures in the Toy and Game Industry in 2022.
Julien is widely regarded for her ability to revitalize legacy brands, champion consumer-centric innovation, and lead cross-functional teams through complex business challenges. Her impact in the Consumer Packaged Goods sector was further acknowledged with the Brand Innovators Women in Marketing: Industry Innovation Award.
She holds both an MBA and a BSBA from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, underscoring her strong foundation in business strategy, financial acumen, and organizational leadership. Known for her collaborative leadership style and passion for storytelling, Julien continues to inspire teams and transform brands with purpose-driven strategies, cultural relevance, and operational excellence.