University Times

Anil Makhija and Josephine Olson have been named associate deans of the Katz Graduate School of Business by Interim Dean Andrew Blair.

Makhija, a faculty member in the Katz school since 1981, will assume his position immediately. Olson, a faculty member in the Katz school since 1971, will become associate dean on Oct. 1.

Olson will replace Lawrence Feick and Makhija will replace Daniel Fogel. Both Feick and Fogel will return to teaching and research on a full-time basis.

As associate dean, Makhija will oversee executive education, information systems, sponsored research, faculty development, and the school's various centers and institutes.

Olson will oversee the school's master's and doctoral programs, faculty recruiting and related activities.

"Both [Makhija and Olson] exemplify the values, commitment and dedication to excellence necessary to continue to move the Katz school forward," Blair said. "I know the school and the University at large will benefit greatly from their hard work and talent." A recipient of the 1993 Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award, Makhija holds a Ph.D. in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and for the past several years has been active in the school's Center for Executive Education.

A widely published researcher, Makhija's work has appeared in Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Research, Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, and Land Economics. He is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Business Research.

Olson earned her Ph.D. in economics at Brown University. She is an associate of Pitt's Center for Latin American Studies, a former dean of Katz's master's program, academic dean and interim chief executive officer of the Czech Management Center in Prague.

In addition, Olson has served as a Fulbright fellow with the International Management Center in Budapest, Hungary, and as a visiting professor at Nijenrode University in the Netherlands.

Olson's research has focused on international business/career paths of MBAs. Her work has been published in The American Economic Review, Journal of Applied Social Psychology and Industrial Relations.