Images by Christa Neu, Douglas Benedict and Sarah Barnett
On July 1 of this year, Manoj Malhotra became the Kevin L. and Lisa A. Clayton Dean of the College of Business.
He is a professor in the department of decision and technology analytics. Previously, Malhotra had been dean of the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and senior associate dean and director of the Operations and Supply Chain Center at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. His research focuses on the flexibility of manufacturing and service firms, manufacturing strategy and supply chain management, the interface between operations and information systems and marketing, and healthcare management. He received his graduate degrees in engineering and PhD in business from The Ohio State University.
I GOT A CALL ONE DAY FROM A SEARCH FIRM. The recruiter said, “Manoj, you’re one of the first people I’m calling. You fit this opportunity to a ‘T’.” I got a better understanding of the opportunity and why the recruiter thought my skill sets would be particularly attractive to the university and the college at this point in time. He stressed my ability to build programs and spearhead research, as well as my success in reaching out to the alumni community and strengthening fundraising.
I WAS IMPRESSED BY THE THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE PROVOST AT LEHIGH. There is such a sense of humility, institutional value and a willingness to work collaboratively.
When I came on campus, I saw a vibrant culture, friendliness, open-mindedness, collaboration, interdisciplinarity, and a willingness to work with others to do what is best for the institution. All in all, I detected a strong sense of upward momentum.
THE FACULTY CULTURE HERE IS GOOD. Lehigh is focused on research, knowledge creation and serving students. High quality faculty have chosen to come here and stay. I see my role as a facilitator and cheerleader, somebody who becomes the tailwind behind the efforts of what the faculty are doing and help them get the resources they need to succeed, whether it’s in the classroom or research domain or reaching out to the industry. I am committed to meeting and getting to know all the faculty.
RESEARCH IS CRITICAL. When we have researchers who are creating new knowledge, then we have the opportunity to disseminate that knowledge to our students via the classroom. If we are just teaching the basics in any discipline without cultivating new information, new paradigms, or new ways of thinking, then we are less differentiated. There are over 800 colleges of business around the country. When you think of the prestigious ones, the Harvards, Whartons or Kelloggs, every one of those schools, without fail, has a strong research reputation. An important challenge for any dean of a leading college of business is building the faculty, along with appropriately resourcing and retaining them.
THE ALUMNI ARE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF SUPPORT AND ADVICE. I have had positive conversations with alumni who have frequently spoken about strengthening Lehigh’s corporate connections, which is one of the things that I’ve done well in my past work. Lehigh alumni are passionate about building the brand of Lehigh Business nationally and globally. There is a general level of excitement and optimism about the college and its future, which I share. (See below for more on the role of alumni.)
I’M INTERDISCIPLINARY AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY BY NATURE. I grew up in the engineering world. The work I did for my master’s program focused on fuel cells, material science, and examining properties of boiler water reactors under high pressure and temperature conditions. For my undergraduate thesis, I used transmission electron microscopy to study aluminum alloys. It was a different world back then. But my training was exceptionally useful. When I came over to the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University and completed my PhD in Management Science, my engineering background gave me a rich perspective, helping me to think beyond the boundaries of my own school. Lehigh Business has a solid footing on this ground, with its integrated computer, engineering and, more recently, healthcare programs.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN THE INTEGRATED BUSINESS AND HEALTH PROGRAM. While I was at the University of South Carolina, we worked on multiple real-world consulting projects in large hospitals and healthcare systems, an area where my current, ongoing research is focused. We can learn from each other and provide value to local health networks in the Lehigh Valley, through our projects and our knowledge in different fields of business.
I ENVISION LEHIGH COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AS A SOLID EDIFICE BUILT ON FIVE PILLARS. The pillars, in no particular order, are the graduate programs, undergraduate programs, PhD programs, faculty research and excellence, and executive education. We have already established a strong presence and reputation in undergraduate programs, which we will continue to enhance. Our faculty quality and research productivity are on the rise. I think we have opportunities for more growth in our graduate and PhD programs, and we have an opportunity to expand our footprint in the executive education space. There is natural interconnectivity between executive education and graduate programs. They can pivot off each other. When you have better relationships with companies, they are interested in more of their managers coming and recruiting from the ranks of our graduates. I think it is a virtuous cycle that if strengthened and sustained, will allow us to make strong investments in the futures of our graduates.
As told to Rob Gerth.
Listen to more with Dean Malhotra on the ilLUminate podcast!
Alumni Relationships
Building long-lasting relationships with alumni is not just about fundraising, though fundraising is vitally important. It is also crucial to build long-lasting relationships with alumni. Alumni relationships go beyond securing money and extra resources for things like scholarship and faculty excellence endowments and funds for Lehigh’s buildings. Alumni relationships allow alumni and corporate stakeholders alike to play pivotal roles in sustaining our institution. Deep connections with alumni help enhance our placements, recruit more qualified students to the program, launch new initiatives and obtain expert advice through alumni advisory boards to design better curriculums.
Ultimately, we are an applied college of business. We are producing students who should be “shovel ready” and trained to do their jobs and contribute as soon as they graduate. We want our students to be attractive to prospective employers. Strong relationships with external business entities, including those of alumni, are essential to the success of Lehigh graduates.
Money is one of the easier ways to give back to Lehigh. What is harder and what makes an equally strong impact, are the other things our alumni can do for this institution, such as guest teaching a class or volunteering to help at a Lehigh event. To me, direct involvement makes for the highest level of engagement and positive impact. As a team, there is nothing we cannot achieve for the Lehigh College of Business when our alumni, faculty, staff and students come together.
—Manoj K. Malhotra