A distinguished expert in economic education and public policy analysis with more than two decades of experience in higher education has been named Dean of Concordia University’s Batterman School of Business.
Scott Niederjohn, PhD, officially steps into his new role May 1, 2025, positioning one of CUW’s largest academic schools for continued growth and excellence.
“I love Concordia and the Batterman School of Business,” says Niederjohn. “I am committed to making it exceptional. It’s an honor to serve students and my colleagues in this capacity, upholding Concordia’s Christian mission.”
An accomplished economist, scholar, and teacher
A prolific scholar, speaker, and writer, Niederjohn has co-authored three books and written or co-written nearly 100 journal articles, monographs, reports, op-eds and curriculum materials. He has worked closely on behalf of local think tanks such as Badger Institute and Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty. He is a regular contributor to local news media, having lent his expertise to multiple Milwaukee-area news outlets over the years, as well as Money Magazine and The Chicago Tribune.
Niederjohn joined Concordia in 2021 as the founding Director of the Concordia Free Enterprise Center (CFEC), which exists to promote human flourishing and the ideals of a free and virtuous society. Under his adept leadership, the Center has made significant strides in advancing its mission through research, education, application, and public policy advocacy. Its biannual “Economics, Politics, and Philosophy on the Bluff” speaker series regularly draws individuals of national and international repute, including former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board member Art Laffer, North Korea defector Yeonmi Park, and Wall Street Journal columnists Jason Riley and Mary O’Grady.
A Passion for Teaching and Business Innovation
Niederjohn’s new appointment will afford him the opportunity to stay on as Director of the CFEC and continue teaching, which he calls one of his “great passions”. At Concordia, he instructs students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Early in his career he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to teach at the University of Luxembourg, and he has been awarded the Governor’s Financial Literacy Award four times over for his work in shaping the landscape of the financial education curriculum. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an MBA with an applied economics concentration from Marquette University.
Building business momentum
As dean, Niederjohn will oversee the strategic direction of Concordia’s Batterman School of Business, fostering partnerships with industry leaders, enhancing academic programs, and expanding opportunities for students to engage in real-world business experiences. His vision includes strengthening Concordia’s focus on innovation, ethics, and free-market principles within its business curriculum, equipping graduates with both business acumen and a value-driven mindset.
The Batterman School of Business is one of six academic schools at Concordia, offering 17 undergraduate majors, four master’s degree programs, and two doctoral degrees. Those majoring in these programs represent approximately 23% of the university’s total enrollment, making it a cornerstone of Concordia’s academic offerings.
Rooted in Christian values, the school is dedicated to developing transformational business leaders who combine integrity, innovation, and service. Graduate of the Batterman School of Business leave with exceptional competitive skills and an unwavering commitment to ethical leadership, prepared to make a lasting impact in their fields.
Want in?
The Batterman School of Business offers a complete range of business education programs and degrees including bachelor’s programs in Sport and Entertainment Business, General Business, Finance, Healthcare Administration, Marketing, Accounting, Justice and Public Policy, and Actuarial Science. Business undergraduate students also participate in the Concordia Core, a rigorous, liberal arts curriculum integrated with Lutheran distinctives.
Graduate programs include Concordia’s highly ranked Master of Business Administration (with 14 concentrations), Master of Science in Leadership, Master of Science in Accountancy, Master of Science in Business Analytics, and two doctoral programs—a Doctor of Business Administration and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Business Administration.