University appoints dean of business school

University appoints dean of business school

Satish Deshpande. Courtesy WMU

A university in the region has named the new dean of its business school.

Western Michigan University said this winter it appointed Satish Deshpande as the dean of the Haworth College of Business.

Deshpande, a professor of management, has served as the interim dean of the college since July 2016. Prior to that, he served for five years as the college's associate dean for operations and graduate programs.

“Dr. Deshpande knows the Haworth College of Business inside out, and he’s already helping it grow and innovate in ways that acknowledge and celebrate the college’s incredible strengths in people, programs and facilities,” said Susan Stapleton, WMU interim provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We are fortunate to have found the management and leadership qualities needed for this role right here in the university community.”

A faculty member since 1990, Deshpande's teaching specialty is human resource management. His research has focused on managerial decision making and ethics, health care management and applied psychology. He is published on such topics as labor negotiations and unions, personnel management in health care, small business labor issues and ethical conduct in workforce management.

A member of the Society for Human Resource Management, the Academy of Management and the International Association of Business and Society, Deshpande has been active over the years in presenting his research at conferences and symposia for those organizations and others. His research has been supported by such entities as Target Inc., the government of Canada and the Center for International Business Education and Research.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to lead the Haworth College of Business,” Deshpande said. “I deeply value the talent, work ethic and creativity of our faculty, staff and students. As we work with the university leadership to pursue strategic goals for WMU, I know we will deliver initiatives that have a positive impact on the college, in the community and in the business world at large.”

Deshpande earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Bombay, a post-graduate diploma from Xavier Labor Relations Institute and a doctoral degree from the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business. He began his professional career as a personnel officer in private industry before beginning his academic career as a teaching and research assistant at Iowa.