Katz to Become New Assistant Dean of K-State's College of Business Administration

March 2006

Jeffrey Katz, professor of management and director of the Center for Leadership at Kansas State University's College of Business Administration, will be the college's next assistant dean and director of graduate studies.

Katz, who also holds the Edgerley Family Chair in Business Administration, has been appointed to the assistant dean position by Yar Ebadi, dean of the College of Business Administration.

"Based on his excellent credentials, institutional experience and demonstrated leadership, Dr. Katz is well qualified to serve in this administrative capacity," Ebadi said.

The appointment takes effect July 1. Katz will replace David Vruwink, who wants to return to teaching after serving in the administrative post since July 2001. Vruwink is an associate professor of accounting.

"It is truly an honor to be selected as the next assistant dean and director of graduate studies for the College of Business Administration," Katz said. "I believe the person holding the position must be someone who has a can-do attitude, has demonstrated the desire and ability to develop new programs, is able to work cooperatively with faculty and students, and respects the factors that brought both groups to K-State. These will be my daily goals in advancing the graduate programs of our college."

Ebadi said he appointed Katz to the position after a national search and a careful review of the recommendations of the search committee.

"Professor Katz is among the College of Business Administration's most outstanding scholars. I am confident he will enhance the high quality, student-centered graduate education program we offer through his proven commitment to excellence," Ebadi said. "I look forward to the contributions Dr. Katz will make in his administrative role."

Since joining K-State in 1995, Katz has worked to help the college enhance its student environment and to seek new ways to meet student needs. In his role as director of the college's graduate programs, he will further serve students, faculty, alumni and the business community.

"It is imperative that our college continue to have vibrant and relevant graduate programs," Katz said. "Over the past five years, the quality of K-State's master of business administration program, in terms of average admission examination scores and ultimate placement of graduates based on starting salaries, has increased. We must continue to build on this momentum."

Katz was promoted to full professor at K-State in 2002. His research examines the impact owners and managers have in selecting company strategies that ultimately determine the future success of domestic and international firms. His work has appeared in numerous journals, including the Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Executive, Business Horizons, Case Research Journal, Human Resource Planning Journal, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Management and Long Range Planning. Katz currently serves on the editorial board of three journals in the field of management. He is the past president of the Midwest Academy of Management. He also represented K-State in 1998 as a Fulbright Senior Scholar at Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, Germany.

Katz earned his doctorate in strategic management, with secondary interest in international management, from the University of Florida. Prior to earning his doctorate, he spent more than 10 years in the financial services industry, including serving as a senior bank regulator in Washington, D.C.

Courtesay K-State Media Relations