KU to welcome School of Business dean candidates to Lawrence campus

LAWRENCE — Four candidates striving to become the next dean of KU’s School of Business will soon visit the Lawrence campus and share their outlook for the future of the school.

The name of each candidate will be announced approximately two business days before their respective campus visits. The public presentations will all take place in Room 1020 in Capitol Federal Hall and are scheduled for the following dates:

• Candidate 1: 4-5 p.m. March 27
• Candidate 2: 4-5 p.m. April 3
• Candidate 3: 4-5 p.m. April 8
• Candidate 4: 4-5 p.m. April 10

In addition, the presentations will be livestreamed and the passcode is 800688. 

Members of the KU community are encouraged to attend these public presentations and provide feedback to the search committee. Presentation recordings and the online feedback forms will remain open on the search site throughout the visit process.

The dean serves as the School of Business’ chief academic and administrative officer, ensuring its research enterprise, educational programs and administrative services engage faculty, staff, students and other external stakeholders.

This effort includes engaging faculty and staff in working toward alignment with Jayhawks Rising, as well as leading the school's fundraising efforts to transform business education and research as part of KU's $2.5 billion capital campaign, Ever Onward.

As a collaborative, entrepreneurial and inclusive leader, the dean will also model a commitment to personal learning and professional growth through a proven record of engaged teaching, scholarship, service and ongoing leadership development, which they should likewise support and encourage in others.

The KU School of Business, an AACSB-accredited public business school and second largest unit on the Lawrence campus, is fast growing. Overall enrollment has grown more than 60 percent since 2017 with about 6,800 undergraduate students currently enrolled. The 2024 U.S. News & World Report ranked the School of Business 41st among public business schools.

Ann Brill, dean of the School of Journalism & Mass Communications, and Jason Hornberger, vice provost of finance, serve as co-chairs of the search committee. WittKieffer, an executive search firm specializing in higher education, is assisting with the process.

More information about the search can be found online.