Our team

About

Daniel (Dan) Sachs serves as the dean of Northeastern University’s Oakland campus. In this role, he leads the strategic advancement of Northeastern in the Bay Area, solidifying the university’s presence in the region by leveraging our innovative academic offerings and research activity to align with the needs of the community.

As dean, Sachs guides the growth and strategic direction of the campus by supporting the delivery of teaching, research, and programming in Oakland, and through close collaboration across Northeastern’s global university system. He works with key stakeholders to develop market-aligned, experiential programs and create unique models of learning. 

Before becoming dean, Sachs served as executive director of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. As the center’s director, he designed corporate engagement strategies to support startups and deep tech founders. He was responsible for science programming and accelerators, including developing a full-spectrum suite of services, offerings, and investment funds to position startups for success.

In addition, Sachs was an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at the Booth School of Business, teaching programs focused on entrepreneurial mindset, leading through partnerships and innovation, and organizational behavior. He has created and taught several executive education courses on behalf of the Booth School of Business for the National Laboratories, universities, and deep tech founders around the world.

Prior to the University of Chicago, Sachs held multiple leadership and academic roles in entrepreneurship and management at DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. In his role as director of corporate education programs, he oversaw the school’s strategic enrollment goals, recruited and coached faculty, and developed customized curriculum for the program. During his tenure, he also served as entrepreneur-in-residence, advising students on new business ventures and managing relationships with over 50 community mentors.

As an entrepreneur, Sachs has launched and operated multiple businesses, spanning more than 25 years. His ventures include Meerkat Advisory, an A-list hospitality and leadership development advisory group, where he served as principal. He was also principal owner and operating partner of Meritage LLC, a parent company of the BIN 36 Wine brand that developed several wine-focused restaurants in the Greater Chicago Area. There, he oversaw site selection, concept development, and daily operations of internationally recognized restaurants with over $14 million in combined annual revenue. 

As a trusted expert in the restaurant and service industry, Sachs has worked with private equity firms, large hotel corporations, and businesses looking to maximize an efficient and effective team. He published the book The Million Dollar Greeting, which provides insights on how to apply hospitality industry best practices to strengthen company profit, customer retention, and employee morale.

Sachs earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Harvard University, a doctorate in business administration specializing in organizational behavior from DePaul University, and a grand diplôme from École de Cuisine La Varenne.