New associate dean named to Business

By Jerry Lawrence

A new associate dean has taken over the reins at the NIU College of Business.

David Graf, an NIU faculty member for 16 years, has been named to the position.

As associate dean, Graf will be handling relations with the business community, promoting the master’s in business administration program and applied research activities. Graf is also in charge of the business college’s computer labs.

Graf assumed the associate dean position July 1 after holding the chair of NIU’s department of operations management and information systems since 1986. College of Business Dean Richard Brown described Graf as an “outstanding” chair in that department.

While Brown was in Europe last week trying to establish exchanges between NIU’s College of Business and European business colleges, Graf has been taking care of Brown’s duties as well as his own.

Graf also deals with MBA alumni who recommend candidates for the MBA program.

Graf said the fact that NIU’s MBA program is regarded highly in the business community helps him promote the program. The College of Business is also accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.

However, he said that trying to market the MBA program is a challenge because there are 20 other MBA programs in the Chicago area.

NIU recently consolidated its graduate offerings in the northwest suburbs, including the MBA program, at its $6 million Hoffman Estates center. The northwest suburbs are home to numerous corporate headquarters which employ people likely to use the MBA program.

After 16 years in the business college, Graf said that it is “kind of fun to look at the MBA program from more of a global perspective.” Graf also said that he looks forward to promoting NIU’s College of Business as much as he can.