AMES, Iowa – Three finalists have been named in the search for Iowa State University’s next dean of the College of Business.
The finalists are:
- J. Chris Leach, senior associate dean for faculty and research in the Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado, Boulder
- Jay Sa-Aadu (pronounced SAW-ah-doo), associate dean in the Tippie School of Management, University of Iowa
- David Spalding, senior vice president and adviser to the president, Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H.
“We are pleased to present three accomplished finalists to lead the College of Business,” said Pam White, co-chair of the search committee and dean of the College of Human Sciences. “On behalf of the search committee, I encourage business students, faculty and staff, and the entire campus community to attend the open forums and provide feedback.”
Leach will be on campus April 4-5; Spalding, April 8-9; and Sa-Aadu, April 10-11. Each will meet with members of the university community and College of Business, and participate in a 3 p.m. open forum in the Gerdin Building. The forum schedule is:
- Leach, April 4, 1148 Gerdin
- Spalding, April 8, 0330 Gerdin
- Sa-Aadu, April 10, 1148 Gerdin
Those who wish to comment on the finalists should submit an online evaluation by noon on April 15. The evaluation form will be available online.
About the finalists
J. Chris Leach, a professor of finance, serves as senior associate dean for faculty and research in the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, a position he has held since 2011. His 19-year career at Colorado also has included two terms as division chair of finance.
Leach earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Okla.; an MBA in finance from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque,and a master’s degree in management-economics and doctorate in finance from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
Jay Sa-Aadu, a professor of finance and real estate, is associate dean in the Tippie School of Management at the University of Iowa, a position he has held since 2008. His 32-year career at Iowa has included 12 years as chair of the department of finance.
Sa-Aadu earned a bachelor’s degree in land economics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, and a master’s degree in real estate and doctorate in real estate and finance from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
David Spalding serves as senior vice president and adviser to the president, as well as chief of staff, at Dartmouth College. His professional career includes serving as Dartmouth’s vice president for alumni relations, as well as positions with Chase Manhattan, First National Bank of Chicago, GE Capital Corporate Finance Group and the Cypress Group.
Spalding earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Dartmouth, and an MBA in finance from New York University.
Photos and vitae of the candidates are available online.