Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to inform you that Ranjan Karri has been appointed as Director of Academic Affairs for the Discovery Partners Institute.
Ranjan was involved with DPI since its inception and recently served one term as a member of the Academic Executive Committee. Ranjan comes to the DPI from the University of Illinois Springfield College of Business & Management with a faculty appointment as a Professor of Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship in the department of Management, Marketing & Operations.
In his new role at DPI, Ranjan will serve as the chief academic officer for DPI and provide leadership of academic policy and procedures for DPI, including recruitment and retention of faculty as part of DPI's membership program, oversight, and coordination of the Executive Committee, coordinating setting agendas for advisory meetings with faculty and administrative bodies, and communications and collaborations with the U of I system universities and academic partners.
Ranjan’s primary research interests are in the areas of entrepreneurship, business ethics, and leadership. His highly cited research is published in top-tier academic journals such as Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Entrepreneurship & Regional Development and Journal of Business Ethics, and Journal of Management Education as well as practitioner journals such as Business Horizons and Organizational Dynamics.
Ranjan joins DPI with an established record of academic leadership and shared governance. He served as the chair of the campus senate at UIS, the Senates Executive Committee for the UI system, department chair, and various University level committees. He was recognized with the Spencer award for excellence in service at UIS. He serves as the Program Chair-Elect on the board of governors of the Midwest Academy of Management.
Ranjan’s academic experience, deep interest in entrepreneurship, commitment to student learning, and excellent record of scholarship are well suited for his new role at DPI. Please join me in welcoming Ranjan Karri into his role as the Director of Academic Affairs as we pursue DPI's mission of economic development for the State of Illinois.
Bill Jackson
Executive Director, Discovery Partners Institute
