Sacred Heart University’s Jack Welch College of Business & Technology(WCBT) in Fairfield, Connecticut, has named Kanwalroop “Kathy” Dhanda the associate dean of faculty affairs and research and Brent French the associate dean of academics and assessment.
“I am excited to welcome both Kathy and Brent to the leadership team,” said David Taylor, dean of the WCBT. “I look forward to working with them to build upon the progress we’ve made in creating a technology-focused, real-world educational experience to prepare our students for the careers of tomorrow.”
Dhanda is an accomplished scholar with an impressive body of research, as evidenced by her selection as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar to study and teach in Iceland in the fall 2024 semester. She serves on several committees, including assurance of learning, academic affairs and the university’s rank and tenure committee.
In her new role, Dhanda will be responsible for overseeing mentorship, professional development, engagement, evaluation and WCBT research initiatives. She will also ensure faculty qualifications and deployment meet the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) standards.
French comes from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he was the assistant dean of finance and operations. He is an experienced administrator with an impressive track record managing programs, faculty, budgets and operations and participating in the AACSB accreditation process. He is a proven innovator who will bring fresh perspectives to curriculum and operations.
In his role, French will oversee all existing academic programs and the development of new programs and curricula. He will also manage academic assessment and continuous improvement initiatives to comply with AACSB standards. French will also be an associate teaching professor of management.
As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers nearly 90 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield campus. It also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the university’s nine colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change — in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its “Best 389 Colleges: 2024 Edition” and “Best Business Schools: 2023 Edition.” Sacred Heart also is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliate station, WSHU Public Radio, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre.
