Saying Emporia State University “Gave me everything,” Dean of the School of Business and Technology Dr. Mohammad Mehri says he is ready to give back if chosen as the school’s next leader.
Mehri was the second finalist to make a visit to campus Monday and Tuesday, following former ESU Professor and current Director of the Brown Innovation Center at Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida, Derek Yonai, last week. Currently a professor and associate dean at Indiana University at South Bend, Mehri earned his master of Business Administration degree in computer information systems from ESU and later his Ph.D in business administration from the University of Texas-Pan American, now Texas Rio Grande Valley and has been with Indiana South Bend since 2014.
When asked what skills he believes make him stand out as an ideal candidate for the position, Mehri pointed to his education and background as key factors.
KVOE News then asked Mehri what his vision for the school would be if chosen as its next dean. He says the school has built a proud tradition of success and quality over the years and he would look to build on that foundation by focusing on several critical areas, emphasizing technology as a major priority.
Finalist interviews are set to conclude Thursday and Friday, with the final candidate appearing on campus for public gatherings. The next dean succeeds Ed Bashaw, who retired at the end of the 2024-25 academic year after six years leading the department.
