Lyn Pankoff named dean of College of Business as of July 1

Lyn Pankoff of the John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., has been named dean of the College of Business, effective July 1.

Lyn Pankoff

Pankoff assumes the college's top administrative position from William Nowlin, who has served as interim dean since July 1995, when Dean Richard Rosett stepped down. Rosett now serves as director of the college's RIT/USA Today Quality Cup Program. Nowlin will return to the faculty.

"The College of Business at RIT has made great strides under the leadership of Walter McCanna, Dick Rosett and Bill Nowlin," says Pankoff. "My goal is to keep the college on this trajectory and continue to enhance its value, especially to the citizens of the Rochester area. I'm absolutely delighted to be moving to Rochester and joining RIT and its College of Business."

At Washington University, Pankoff has served as a faculty member in the School of Business since 1967, teaching and conducting research primarily in statistics and computing. His administrative experience there has included serving as acting dean, vice dean, associate dean for academic affairs, faculty director of the M.B.A. program, associate dean for computing and director of the doctoral program.

"We welcome Dr. Pankoff and know he will make an outstanding dean of our College of Business," says Stanley McKenzie, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, in making the announcement. "Dr. Pankoff comes to RIT with a wealth of administrative and business teaching experience that will be a tremendous asset in leading the college in its quest for continuous improvement and in enhancing our students' educational experiences.

"I wish to thank Dr. Nowlin for his most capable leadership of the college during this period of transition," McKenzie continues. "Dr. Nowlin has helped to keep the college on track and to push it forward in its quality and student recruitment efforts. For that we are most grateful, and I look forward to Dr. Nowlin's continuing service to the college and Institute."

While serving as acting business dean at Washington University from 1993­95, Pankoff oversaw the reaccreditation of the B.S.B.A., M.B.A. and Ph.D. programs; the substantial revision of the full-time M.B.A. curriculum; established three new faculty chairs; and greatly expanded non-degree executive programs, among other accomplishments and responsibilities. As vice dean from 1992­93, Pankoff was responsible for virtually all internal functions, particularly the school budget, academic programs, centers, placement and personnel. While at Washington University, he chaired or served on key school and university committees, including two terms on Senate Council. He established a proven track record of promoting diversity among both faculty and students.

Before assuming administrative posts, Pankoff had compiled an impressive record of publications in top-tier professional journals.

Pankoff earned his Ph.D. and M.B.A. in statistics and economics from the University of Chicago. He also earned an M.S. in behavioral science and a B.S. in management science from Case Western Reserve University.

Pankoff, 57, is married with two sons and two stepdaughters. When they move to Rochester, his wife, Belinda, will continue to pursue her career in speech pathology for visually-impaired children.