“Venky brings a strong background in innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development that will greatly benefit our business programs,” said James W. Abbott, USD president. “He has directed funded research on commercializing new technologies, and he led the Green Launching Pad, an accelerator program that helped start 14 companies specializing in green technology.”

Venkatachalam received his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from The University of Madras, India, in 1980. He received his M.B.A. from the Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta in 1983 and his Ph.D. from The University of Alabama in 1990. He joined the University of New Hampshire in 1992 as an assistant professor of information systems. In 2002 he became chair of the Decision Sciences Department at what was then called the Whittemore School of Business and Economics. In 2005 he added the role of director of the university’s Enterprise Integration Research Center. In 2012 he was named associate dean of academic programs at what had become the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics.

“Beacom School of Business at USD has a solid reputation for its world-class business education,” said Venkatachalam. “Beacom has outstanding faculty known for their teaching and research excellence, and I am excited about this opportunity to lead the Beacom School.

“I am looking forward to working with the faculty and staff at Beacom to grow enrollment and ranking, build new and innovative programs, advance the school’s reputation in teaching research and outreach, and also as a leading player in South Dakota’s economic development initiatives.”

Venkatachalam has received numerous teaching and research awards including the 1995 Teaching Excellence Award and the 2004 Research Excellence Award, both from the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, and the 2006 Faculty Excellence in Research Award from the University of New Hampshire. In 2012 he received the UNH Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Public Service.

A photo of Venkatachalam is available for download at www.usd.edu/press/news/images/releases/Venky_Venkatachalam.jpg.

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