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The Division of Academic Affairs has announced Dr. Fidelis Ikem as the new Dean of the College of Business at JSU. Prior to joining Jackson State, Ikem was dean and full professor in the College of Business at Central State University.
“I am delighted to be here at Jackson State University,” says Ikem. “I hope that my experience enhances what has already been built in this college. I think, with the help of the fantastic faculty and staff here, we can take this college to a new level.”
Furthermore, he said, “Everything we do revolves around our students and preparing them for a career in business. Student performance is what makes us a great institution. If our students don’t perform well in the workplace, we look terrible, but when they do well in the workforce, Jackson State has no other choice but to shine.”
Ikem is seeking to improve the College of Business by engaging faculty and students with the local business community, building more partnerships with corporations and organizations, increasing internship and employment opportunities, and creating new degree programs.
Ikem explains, “We want industries to take a serious look at our students for internship opportunities. “I’ve had incredible experiences in my past positions that resulted from internships so I thoroughly encourage students to actively go after them.”
Ikem has worked in academia at Albany State University, Winston-Salem State University, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Virginia State University, and Norfolk State University.
He has also been involved in more than five million dollars in funded grants and he has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and proceedings in a variety of academic journals. Additionally, Ikem’s research has appeared in Operations Research, Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Journal of Information System, etc.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Metropolitan State University, and a master’s degree in mathematical sciences from Clemson University.
Ikem also earned a master’s and Ph.D. in operations research from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.