People and Places: February 21, 2023
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 Diya Das has been named the next dean of the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. Das most recently served as associate dean of Bryant University’s College of Business in Smithfield, Rhode Island. There, she helped develop new graduate programs in data science, business analytics, and taxation, as well as a certificate in healthcare leadership. She played an integral role in the strategic planning for the business school’s accreditation process, co-chaired the university’s Vision 2030 strategic planning committee for corporate partnerships and lifelong learning, co-chaired the steering committee that revised the university’s general education curriculum, and created new programs that focused on outcomes and campus life for graduate students. She begins her new role on June 1. |
 Doseong Kim has become the new dean of Sogang Business School (SBS) at Sogang University in Seoul. He succeeds outgoing dean Sung Youl Jun. Since joining SBS in 2007, Kim has served as vice president for external affairs, vice president for international affairs, and associate dean for undergraduate and graduate programs. His research has focused on finance with an emphasis on market efficiency, mergers and acquisitions, and global financial markets. He took his new position in January. |
 Kaustav Misra has been named dean of the School of Business at the State University of New York at Fredonia. He most recently served as associate dean of the School of Business at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. Previously, he was chair of the department of economics, chair of the Vitito Global Leadership Institute, and co-chair of Cardinal Business Edge program at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. He also has been a visiting assistant professor at the University of Southern Mississippi. |
 Jeff Blodgett has stepped into the role of interim dean of the College of Business at the University of Houston–Victoria (UHV) in Texas. Blodgett, a marketing professor, joined the university’s faculty in 2011. He has held many leadership roles, including associate dean of the business college, president of the UHV Faculty Senate, and chair of the Faculty Salary Plan Committee. He received the 2020 UHV Distinguished Faculty Service Award for his service to both the university and the community. He also has been involved with the American Association of University Professors and has served as president of the organization’s Texas Conference.
New School NamesPurdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, has announced that its business school will be named the Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. School of Business, after the university’s 12th president, who retired in December. Before joining Purdue, Daniels held executive posts at Eli Lilly and Company, was CEO of the Hudson Institute research organization, and served as the 49th governor of Indiana. The Krannert name, which has long been associated with the business school, will be retained for the graduate and executive degree programs at the Daniels School. Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, has renamed its College of Business and Public Administration the Larry and Kathleen Zimpleman College of Business in celebration of the couple’s multimillion dollar philanthropic investment. The Zimplemans’ support will allow the business school to pursue a range of initiatives focused on corporate social responsibility and topics related to environmental, social, and governance issues. The gift also will enhance hands-on learning experiences, provide additional funds for scholarships, and support developmental opportunities for faculty. Larry Zimpleman is former president and CEO of The Principal Financial Group and a member of Drake’s board of trustees. New ProgramsFIU Business at Florida International University in Miami has launched an MBA in Cybersecurity Risk Management designed for working professionals with more than four years of experience. The first class will start the program in fall 2023 and graduate in December 2024. While taught fully online, the STEM-designated program includes two optional on-campus residencies at FIU’s main campus. Students will learn cybersecurity analysis, strategy, policy and governance, cybersecurity risk management, business continuity and incident response, and cybersecurity standards and frameworks. Durham University Business School in the U.K. has created an MSc in Energy Engineering Management, which is designed to equip future leaders with the skills to make a net-zero world a reality. The program is a collaboration between the business school and the university’s Durham Energy Institute. Program modules will cover topics such as decarbonization, renewable energy technologies, climate economics and finance, new green venture creation, and environmental resilience. Students also will participate in business and energy research projects. The curriculum will be informed by the university’s department of engineering to ensure that students acquire STEM skill sets required to operate new green technologies. CollaborationsPOLIMI Graduate School of Management in Milan, EDHEC Business School in France, and ESMT Berlin have partnered to launch INNOVA Europe, a student competition designed to tackle societal, economic, and environmental challenges. Supported by Microsoft Italia, INNOVA Europe invites undergraduates and master’s-level students to submit proposals that address one of the challenges outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The winning team will receive a prize of 5,000 EUR (about 5,300 USD) and incubation services offered by the three schools. Grants and DonationsPurdue University’s Daniels School of Business has received a 50 million USD commitment from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation. The naming of the Bruce White Undergraduate Institute honors the recently deceased founder and chairman of White Lodging, who was also a former member of the Purdue Board of Trustees and a longtime university benefactor. Other NewsThe PhD Project, a nonprofit organization focused on diversifying college business schools, has announced a new 15-member advisory council, the PAC-15. The committee will meet quarterly to provide guidance as the organization considers new programs and partnerships. The inaugural committee includes three members each from five key disciplines: accounting, finance and economics, information systems, management, and marketing. Members of the PAC-15 will communicate directly with others in their respective disciplines to provide input on proposed new programs. If you have news of interest to share with the business education community, please send press releases, relevant images, or other information to AACSB Insights at [email protected]. |
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