MEGAN SWOYER
Special to The Jewish News

Forwar

strong Jewish history in terms of stu-
dents and alumni. And many of the
members of the business school's two
ess than 75 days into his
advisory boards are Jewish," says
new job, Harvey Kahalas has
Kahalas. "There's a lot of excitement
already outlined his "compa-
on the part of Jewish alums, members
ny" goals for the next five
of the community and individuals in
years.
the school of business to build ties
The 56-year-old professor and dean and relationships." Kahalas' most
of Wayne State University's School of
recent title was distinguished professor
Business Administration wastes no
for the Commonwealth of Massachu-
time when it comes to propelling the
setts at the University of Massachu-
school into the universe of tomorrow.
setts, Dartmouth. (That's the highest
He hopes to initiate one of the biggest
level a Massachusetts professor can
reality checks ever to hit the school of
achieve. There were only six such pro-
business.
fessors in the state.)
"We have to break down the barrier
One member of the WSU business
between academia and the real- world
school's advisory board is Ron Stone
aspects of private corporations," says
of the marketing and communications
Kahalas. His aim, in today's climate of company Stone, August, Medrich and
constant corporate changes and cut-
Co. in Troy. Stone believes Kahalas is
ting-edge business methods, is to liter-
the school's ticket to beComing a first-
ally dive right into the world of busi-
class institution. "He has experience
ness.
and presence and a desire to make it
"Learning is not just discussing
the best," Stone says.
material that's in text books. We have
Kahalas overflows with enthusiasm
to involve more members of the busi-
regarding new partnerships. And he
ness community in the activities that
doesn't hide it, according to Wayne
take place on campus. And we need to State's Charles Soberman, senior lec-
provide opportunities for faculty to be
turer in entrepreneurship. "The facul-
more active in business environ-
ty is energized by the dean," says
ments," says Kahalas, who wants to
Soberman. "He's a visionary."
meet some of those objectives by
Soberman cites the development
developing stronger ties with southeast of the school's Entrepreneurship
Michigan's Jewish community.
Center as one example of a project
Melissa Ruden, who is Kahalas'
on which he and the dean are work-
development officer, sees a productive
ing. "A number of centers for the
future for the school, thanks to her
business school will connect and
new boss's "innovative ideas."
reinforce the relationship
Ha rvey
Impressed with his concept to
between Wayne State and
develop niche marketing in each Kahalas has a southeastern Michigan busi-
1 agenda.
of the school's five departments
ness people and students,"
and to establish endowed faculty
says Soberman.
positions to attract "state-of-the-art"
Kahalas also will be
professors, Ruden says Kahalas will
involved deeply with fund raising and
"move our school into the 21st centu-
grant development. "The largest activ-
ry.
ities that a dean of a business school
The dean, who runs a school in
gets involved with are external rela-
which the graduate enrollment is up
tions and fund raising," Kahalas says.
over last year (total School of Business
"And there's an extremely large Jewish
Administration enrollment is 2,900),
community with whom Wayne State
is focusing on ambitions that should-
has not effectively engaged in activi-
n't be impossible, given the fact that
ties. We can do things that are positive
the university's new president, Dr.
for everyone."
Irvin Reid, is familiar and comfortable
Kahalas is developing a joint pro-
with the business world. Reid is a for-
gram with Bar-Ilan University that
mer dean of the business school at the
will allow for faculty exchanges —
University of Tennessee.
professors from each school could
Comparing his job to a CEO of a
teach, study and perform research at
division of a large company, Kahalas
the other. "I'd also like to launch a
oversees 50 full-time faculty members
student exchange program where stu-
and 30 part-time personnel. Meetings
dents from there come here and vice-
on everything from fund raising to
versa."
developing a relationship with Israel's
Married for 35 years and the
Bar-Ilan University fill his daily agenda.
father of two grown children, Kahalas
"Wayne State has an extremely
now lives temporarily at Riverfront

L

Photos by Krista Husa

Agenda

73

Wayne State's new
business dean is looking
to the Jewish community
to help move the school to
the top rung.

2/20
1998

137