Shaping the Future of Business Education
Dino Villegas, PhD, is an academic leader and strategist committed to transforming business education and preparing students for the future of work. As Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs at Texas Tech University’s Rawls College of Business, he has spearheaded a comprehensive curriculum innovation, led the development of a top-ranked online program, and ensured that AI, data-driven decision-making, and leadership skills are at the core of business education.
Core Curriculum Review: Modernizing Business Education
Dino has played a key role in the redesign of the Core Curriculum for the BBA, which impacts all business majors at the Rawls College of Business. The goal was to ensure students graduate with the critical thinking, data analytics, and AI-driven business acumen required in today’s rapidly evolving economy.
The Curriculum Review Process
This multi-phase curriculum transformation was structured around four key stages:
- Mapping: Benchmarking industry needs, analyzing syllabi, gathering faculty input, and reviewing AACSB accreditation requirements to align business education with future workforce demands.
- Exploration: Conducting workshops and surveys to evaluate gaps in the core business curriculum, ensuring alignment with market trends.
- Design: Forming a Summer Task Force to develop AI-integrated course frameworks with faculty representation from each discipline.
- Implementation: Establishing working groups and engaging faculty members to execute the new curriculum, ensuring AI and digital literacy are embedded across all core courses.
The redesigned Rawls Foundations Curriculum ensures that every business student is: 
Business Minded – Mastering models and theories to solve real-world problems. Human-Centric – Developing leadership, communication, and ethical decision-making skills. Data-Driven – Leveraging analytics and AI to drive business insights. Tech-Savvy – Mastering emerging technologies to optimize business processes.
By embedding AI in all core courses, the curriculum prepares students to be adaptable and proactive in an increasingly automated business environment.
Online BBA Program – Ranked #8 in the Nation
Lead the developmentb of the Online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program at The Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University that has become one of the top-ranked online business programs in the country. This program was designed to:
- Provide accessible, high-quality business education to non-traditional students and professionals.
- Offer a tech-enhanced learning experience and real-world applications.
- Expand faculty resources, to support the program’s growing student base.
- Deliver a rigorous yet flexible curriculum, ensuring that online students receive the same caliber of education as on-campus learners.
Industry-Connected Learning & Student Success
A cornerstone of my academic leadership is his commitment to bridging academia with industry. His initiatives include:
- Strengthening corporate partnerships to provide students with real-world projects and internships.
- Enhancing student engagement and retention strategies, leading to significant enrollment growth and career placements.
- Develop High Impact Practice, and leading efforts to incorporate a First YEar Experience, Tutoring, Mentoring, Mico-Credentials and Industry Engage requrements.
- Expanding global business education, integrating international case studies and cross-border business experiences into coursework.
Through these efforts, students gain practical experience, professional networks, and career-ready skills before they graduate.