During the December 2024 commencement ceremony, Dr. Dave Rampersad announced the Harris College of Business and Executive Education will now also house the new Khadanga School of Executive Education in honor of the late Dr. Dave Khadanga who served the university from 1988 until his passing in 2023.
The Khadanga School of Executive Education will incorporate all of Faulkner’s current executive-style business education programs. For a full list, click here.
Dr. Khadanga established the first graduate program at Faulkner University and served as dean of the Harris College of Business for many years. This new school celebrates his incredible legacy and ensures that his commitment to excellence in executive education will continue to inspire future leaders.
“We are deeply indebted to Dr. Dave Khadanga for the work that he has done and the stability that he brought to the institution,” Rampersad said.
The resolution was adopted by the Faulkner University Board of Trustees on September 5, 2024 and was read aloud at the commencement ceremony. A special presentation was made to Khadanga’s wife and Harris College of Business Professor Dr. Rosie Khadanga and his daughter Sherrie following the reading.
Dr. Dave Khadanga worked at Faulkner University since 1985 when he accepted an appointment as Assistant Professor of Business Administration. He began serving as the dean of the Harris College of Business & Executive Education in 1988. Khadanga attended Utkal University in Odisha, India and earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Commerce; Master of Commerce; Ph.D in Personnel Management and LLB (Bachelor of Laws). He also earned an MBA from Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Alabama. He was a member of the American Management Association, the Academy of Management and the Society for Human Resource Management. Although serving as dean, Khadanga continued to teach several business courses on both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
In 1988, Khadanga created the Executive Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program. At this time, he also substantially enhanced the B.S. in Management of Human Resources (MHR) program. Later, in 1997, he led development and implementation of the Master of Science in Management (M.S.M.) program. He also led the development and implementation of the Executive MBA program.
His desire to teach was motivated by his desire to “instill knowledge among those desiring to learn” and was also motivated “by the opportunity of influencing, shaping and molding the lives of young people.”