Business Dean Appointed

Jamal Rashed (pronounced Ra-SHEED) is the new dean of the Walker L. Cisler College of Business. His appointment is effective July 1, pending approval by the NMU Board of Trustees at its April 30 meeting. Rashed comes to NMU from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he serves as a professor of economics and international business and as director of the Center for International Business.

“I am delighted to join the leadership team at Northern Michigan University," he said. "The students, faculty, staff, alumni and the business community are very supportive of NMU’s culture and I look forward to contributing to the success of the college. My goals for the Walker L. Cisler College of Business include strengthening our ties with the business community and collaborating with the many reputable programs at NMU. During my visit to NMU, I met with the other deans who were quite open to working with the business school, which I found very exciting.”

Susan Koch (Academic Affairs) described Rashed as an award-winning teaching and outstanding scholar who has a strong record of collaborative leadership, all of which make him an ideal fit for Northern. "His experience with a highly successful MBA program at Xavier University, his student-centered orientation and his strong international experience were among the many attributes that made Dr. Rashed the first choice of the search committee. I am confident that, with his leadership, NMU’s College of Business will continue to move forward and contribute to the mission of the university in very positive ways.”

Rashed has been at Xavier since 1989, teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level. As the director of international business, Rashed has developed a customized executive education program for major Ohio businesses, established nine study abroad programs with partner schools in Europe and the Middle East and assisted in creating a distinguished speakers series.

From 2001-07, he was the chair of Xavier’s department of economics and human resources, during which time he helped create a strategic plan; develop standards for appropriate staffing levels; mentor faculty research, grant writing and professional development; and implement initiatives to promote diversity for the department. He was also the chair of Xavier’s Faculty Committee (similar to NMU’s Academic Senate) from 2007-09.

Rashed was the recipient of the Williams College of Business Executive MBA Professor of the Year Award nine times in the past 12 years. He received the Dean’s Award in Recognition of Excellence three times for his accomplishments in the areas of service, scholarship and teaching. Prior to Xavier, he taught for two years at Southern Methodist University.

Rashed earned his doctorate in economics with focus on financial theory, international trade and finance and labor economics from Southern Methodist, where he also completed a master’s degree in economics. He also has a master’s in economic research from North Texas State (now University of North Texas, located in Denton). He did his undergraduate studies in economics at Yarmouk University in Jordan.