Olin’s Kadan named dean of Arizona State University’s business school

Ohad Kadan, who began his academic career in 2002 as an assistant professor at WashU Olin and spent nearly 20 years rising through its ranks as an instructor, academic and researcher, will become dean of the WP Carey School of Business at Arizona State University on July 1.

“It is truly bittersweet to me,” said Kadan after the announcement was made last week. “I have spent my entire academic career here at Olin, and it will be difficult to leave.”

In an email after the announcement to WashU Olin’s staff, faculty and students, Dean Mark P. Taylor acknowledged the recognition of Kadan’s talent as an academic and purpose-driven leader.

“I am, of course, thrilled for the opportunity that awaits him,” Taylor wrote. “But at the same time, I’m quite sad to lose a valued colleague who has had a staggering impact across every part of the Olin community.”

Fresh opportunity

In its announcement on November 15, the business school based in Tempe, Arizona, noted that Kadan’s appointment culminated a national search to fill the post.

The school’s announcement said he would join at a “crucial period for higher education,” and went on to quote Kadan: “WP Carey prides itself on channeling ASU’s spirit of innovation and rethinking what’s next in business education. I am excited to lead the school into emerging areas, while never losing sight of our commitment to student success and cutting-edge research.”

Kadan said the opportunity represented a stark change in direction after 20 years at the same institution, but it was an exciting opportunity to put into practice what he’d learned in that time. Additionally, he noted that his children were growing up and he and his wife were eager to explore new paths as they moved toward becoming empty-nesters.

The ASU business school serves more than 17,000 students across undergraduate programs in more than 30 disciplines as well as a range of graduate and doctoral programs.

Impact across Olin

Kadan leaves with two prominent titles at WashU Olin: vice dean for education and globalization and H. Frederick Hagemann Jr. Professor of Finance. Those positions capped his rise from assistant professor. During his ascent, he also served as area chair for finance. On the way, he assembled a distinguished record of published research, and his commitment to teaching at the highest level earned him Olin’s Reid Teaching Award.

As vice dean, Ohad has partnered with colleagues in every program, every center and across every student and alumni population. His partnership helped to drive the renovation of the Full-Time MBA program with the global immersion. He’s participated in creating new specialized master’s programs. He’s overseen the launch of the Center for Digital Education and helped guide the center—and our faculty—through the pandemic. He helped in the development of our online programs and Olin’s strategic plan, ensuring our pillars of excellence are imbued throughout the curricula across our programs.

Kadan’s appointment has so far been noted by ASU in its announcement as well as Poets & Quants, Arizona’s ABC-TV 15 and the Phoenix Business Journal.

“On a personal note, I shall greatly miss our daily interactions on school strategy and management,” Taylor wrote last week. “I’m sorry to lose such a deeply committed and valued member of the senior leadership team, though I’m proud with the certain knowledge that he will be a great leader.”