Business college dean first speaker in community breakfast series

Contact: Alyssa Benson

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The future direction of Western Michigan University's business college will be the first topic at the Mercantile Bank of Michigan Breakfast Speaker Series hosted by the Haworth College of Business.

Photo of Dr. Satish Deshpande.

Deshpande

Dr. Satish Deshpande, dean of the Haworth College of Business, will give a presentation titled "The Future of Business Education: Strategic Implications for the Haworth College of Business" at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28. The presentation will take place at the Fetzer Center in Room 1035.

The event is free and open to the public and begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (269) 387-6059 or online. Free parking is available in Fetzer Center lot 72F.

Deshpande

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.

Deshpande's tenure at WMU has included such accomplishments as helping to create a human resources management major and leading the college's first strategic planning process. As associate dean, he was involved in revision of the college's Master of Business Administration program, was instrumental in the introduction of a University-wide entrepreneurship minor and was responsible for maintaining the college's accreditation through AACSB—the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

During his years at WMU, Deshpande spent a summer serving as a visiting professor at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and another summer as an exchange professor at Japan's Nihon University.

Deshpande became dean in 2018 after serving as interim dean since 2016.

Future Speakers

  • Oct. 26: Jeff Getting, prosecutor, Kalamazoo County Government
  • Nov. 30: Dr. L. Marshall Washington, president, Kalamazoo Valley Community College
  • Jan25: Chris Burns, senior fixed income analyst, Greenleaf Trust
  • Feb. 22: Joe Cekola, president and owner, Imperial Beverage
  • March 29: Judy Paget, executive director, Hospital Hospitality House
  • April 26: Greg Dobson, chief operating officer, AVB
  • May 17: Dr. Larry Beer, president, licensed psychologist and licensed professional counselor, Child and Family Psychological Services

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.