HAYS, Kan. – Dr. Muhammad R.K. Chishty will be the new Dean of the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Fort Hays State University. He will assume his post on July 1.

Chishty comes to Fort Hays State from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, where he was a Finance faculty member in the Graham School of Management. He served in a variety of administrative positions, including director of the MBA program, director of undergraduate programs, chair of the finance and accounting program, director of the Center for the Study of Financial Markets and Derivatives, associate dean and, most recently, interim dean of the Graham School of Management.

“He is a skilled administrator and leader, bringing with him vast experience in curriculum development, industry partnerships, and connecting people in a collective vision to serve students,” said Dr. Jill Arensdorf, provost and vice president for academic affairs, in her announcement of Chishty’s selection.

Chishty earned his B.A. in political science in 1984 from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. After a year in the Ph.D. program in political science at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, he switched his focus to finance and went on to earn his M.S. in finance in 1988 and a Ph.D. in business administration with a concentration in finance in 1991, both from Georgia State University in Atlanta.

He then became an assistant professor of finance at Western Illinois University in Macomb, before joining Saint Xavier University in 1992. His research papers on investments and corporate finance have been published in the Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Midwest Review of Finance and Insurance, Journal of Contemporary Issues and Business, and Managerial Finance.

“I was impressed by Robbins College’s variety of programs,” said Chishty, “especially their standout online courses and degree options, the long-established programs in China that show FHSU’s pioneering role in international academic exchanges, and the eight centers and institutes within Robbins that support student entrepreneurship and the larger community.”

He continued, “I look forward to working with the Fort Hays State University community to continue building the resources and expertise in the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship. I want the college to cement its position as a premier business school and the first choice for students in Kansas who seek an excellent and affordable education.”