Wagner College’s Nicolais School of Business is starting the academic year with a new home and permanent leadership.
Michael Driscoll, Ed.D., who served as interim dean for the past year, has been appointed dean, as the school and its faculty move to the DaSilva Academic Center on Wagner’s new extended campus, formerly the Staten Island campus of St. John’s University. The new academic spaces feature an up to date markets lab, electronic stock tickers, and tech-forward classrooms.
“What excites me the most about the new home for the Nicolais School of Business is the central location for our students and our faculty,” said Driscoll. “Our new offices will allow for students and faculty to interact at the same location where instruction takes place. The classrooms are bright, modern spaces that are conducive for active engagement.”
The renovated markets lab will give students a space to work independently or together on projects, fostering collaboration and cooperation. New Bloomberg terminals will also give students and faculty access to the Bloomberg Professional Service, a widely used and standard tool among financial professionals.
Fanny Straub, a Finance student in Wagner’s MBA Class of 2028, recently toured the new building and markets lab with Dean Driscoll. She completed her undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance at Wagner this past May and enjoyed her experience so much that she is now pursuing an MBA in Finance at Wagner.
“I am very excited about the changes happening across campus and the new opportunities these spaces will provide for us students. The new classrooms look amazing, and I am especially looking forward to working with the new Bloomberg Terminal. As a finance student, having access to professional tools like Bloomberg will be a great opportunity to connect what we learn in the classroom with real-world financial markets and industry practices. I think these new spaces and resources will be a great addition to Wagner and will create even more opportunities for students to learn and grow,” Straub said.
“The future looks very promising for the Nicolais School,” Driscoll said. “We have a beautiful new home, we are receiving the support of President Doggett and our alumni who desire to help their alma mater, and we are adding new faculty members who bring new ideas and experiences from the business world into our classrooms.”
Driscoll joined Wagner in 2025 after faculty and administrative positions at both Adelphi University and Mount St. Mary’s University. He also brings over 28 years of global finance experience, specializing in the energy and aerospace sectors.
