About Dr. Cotei

Ally Bridge Inaugural Dean and Professor of Finance

Dr. Carmen Cotei serves as the Ally Bridge Inaugural Dean and Professor of Finance in the �춹��Ƶ School of Business at the City University of New York. She is passionate about helping students discover their potential and preparing them for meaningful careers, while supporting faculty excellence and fostering strong connections between the college and the business community.

With more than 20 years of experience in higher education leadership, teaching, and scholarship, Dr. Cotei has dedicated her career to creating opportunities for students through innovative academic programs, experiential learning, internships, and industry partnerships. Since joining �춹��Ƶ, she has spearheaded initiatives to expand experiential learning opportunities, strengthen partnerships with leading employers, secure new philanthropic support, launch a student-managed investment fund, and enhance students’ career pathways through internships and industry collaborations. She also oversees strategic initiatives designed to advance the School’s long-term growth and AACSB accreditation goals.

Before coming to �춹��Ƶ, Dr. Cotei held several leadership positions at the University of Hartford’s Barney School of Business, including Interim Dean, Associate Dean, Department Chair, and Director of the Actuarial Science Program. Throughout these roles, she helped launch new academic programs, guide successful AACSB reaccreditation efforts, improve student retention, manage complex budgets, strengthen advisory boards, and build partnerships that connect classroom learning to professional practice.

An accomplished scholar in entrepreneurial finance, small business survival, startup financing, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance, Dr. Cotei has published extensively in leading academic journals and has received numerous research grants and professional awards. Her work has explored topics including startup capital structure, entrepreneurial exit strategies, SME financing, policy uncertainty, and ESG-related corporate transactions.

Dr. Cotei began her professional career in finance, serving as Chief Financial Officer of a global telecommunications company and previously as a financial analyst and division leader in the investment management industry. Those experiences continue to shape her practical approach to business education and her commitment to helping students connect theory with real-world decision-making.

She earned a PhD in Financial Economics from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies. She believes that education can transform lives and is committed to creating an environment where students, faculty, and staff can thrive, grow, and make a positive impact in their communities.