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Last modified: Thursday, September 6, 2012

Idalene 'Idie' Kesner named interim dean of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 6, 2012

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Idalene "Idie" Kesner has been named interim dean of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, effective Oct. 1. Her appointment is subject to approval by the Board of Trustees.

Idalene Kesner

Idalene Kesner

Print-Quality Photo

Kesner is associate dean of faculty and research and the Frank P. Popoff Chair of Strategic Management at the Kelley School. Kesner will assume the interim deanship after current dean Dan Smith begins his role as president of the IU Foundation.

"Idie brings deep experience, national recognition, and the trust and respect of the Kelley faculty to the role of interim dean," said Lauren Robel, IU executive vice president and provost of the Bloomington campus. "Her administrative experience will ensure that Kelley does not lose a beat as it searches for its permanent new leader."

"Professor Kesner is an excellent choice to serve as interim dean," Smith added. "As an associate dean, she has played an important role in all major decisions related to the school's strategic direction. She is well regarded by faculty and staff, and has deep knowledge of the Kelley School's programs.

"Idie also brings a strong global orientation and has helped us implement key initiatives in Korea and India," Smith continued. "Idie will bring sound judgment to the position along with an amazing work ethic. I fully anticipate the school will continue to thrive under her leadership."

Kesner joined the Kelley School faculty in 1995, coming from a titled faculty position at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

An accomplished educator and administrator, she was chairwoman of the Full-Time MBA Program from August 2003 to August 2006, and chairwoman of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship from October 2006 to June 2009. From 1996 to 2003, she co-directed the school's Consulting Academy.

She received both her MBA and Ph.D. in business administration from IU; her doctorate was awarded in 1983. She also earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University in 1979.

"Having graduated from this school is one of my greatest sources of pride. As such, I am honored to accept this role," Kesner said. "I'm very happy to serve the school in any capacity I can because of all that IU and the Kelley School has done for me."

Kesner repeatedly has been recognized for her teaching, winning more than 20 teaching awards from the Kelley School and while she taught at Kenan-Flagler. Most recently, in 2012, she won a teaching award from Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea, which has a joint MBA Program with the Kelley School.

She has taught in more than 100 executive programs and served as a consultant for many different national and international firms working on strategic and board related issues. Her research has focused on the areas of corporate board of directors, chief executive succession, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions.