UW-Madison names interim business dean

R.D. Nair has been named interim dean of the School of Business effective Sept. 1.

Nair will serve until a permanent dean is appointed to succeed Dean Andrew J. Policano, who announced in January his intention to step down as dean to return to teaching, says Chancellor John Wiley.

Nair has been senior associate dean for academic affairs for the past seven years. He is also PricerwaterhouseCoopers Professor of Accounting and Information Systems and executive director of the school’s Center for International Business Education and Research.

Nair has led significant growth in the school’s international programs and has been responsible for developing the school’s programs to enhance faculty teaching expertise.

After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, he joined the UW–Madison faculty in 1978. He has taught accounting courses at the undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. level and continues to teach in the Executive MBA and Executive Education programs. He served as chair of the accounting department from 1991 to 1994. He received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Wisconsin Institute of CPAs in 1989, and the business school’s Larson Excellence in Teaching Award in 1992.

In his interim post, Nair will oversee about 100 faculty, more than 2,000 students and an executive education program that serves more than 15,000 clients each year.

UW–Madison is conducting a national search to replace Policano.

“Andy Policano has created a great legacy of innovation and success in his 10 years as dean. I am confident that R.D. Nair will keep up the momentum as we search to find the best person to lead the School of Business,” Wiley says.

Nair’s salary as interim dean will be $191,753, contingent upon approval by the UW System Board of Regents in September.