Akhilesh Bajaj ’97 PhD Joins Collins College of Business as New Dean

University of Arizona Eller College of Management alumnus Akhilesh Bajaj has been named dean of the Collins College of Business at the University of Tulsa, effective July 1—marking another significant leadership achievement for the Eller College alumni network.

Bajaj, who earned his doctorate in management information systems (MIS) from the Eller College in 1997, brings with him a strong track record of academic leadership. Most recently, he served as the James A. Chapman Chair in Business Information Systems and director of the School of Accounting and Business Information Systems at Tulsa. His background also includes an MBA from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

Bajaj has published widely in academic journals and previously served as president of the Faculty Senate. He succeeds former Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor, who recently retired after three years as dean. 

Bajaj's appointment adds to a growing roster of Eller alumni who have ascended to leadership positions at business schools nationwide, reflecting the MIS program's continued influence in developing academic leaders who shape the future of business education.

"The success of our MIS alumni in academic leadership roles speaks to the unique foundation they received here—combining deep technical expertise with strategic thinking," says Karthik Kannan, dean and Halle Chair in Leadership of the Eller College .

At the University of Colorado Boulder, Vijay Khatri was named the Rustandy Endowed Dean of the Leeds School of Business in 2023. Khatri earned his PhD in management from Eller in 2002 and brings deep expertise in data and information systems to his role. 

Prabhudev Konana, who earned his MBA in 1991 and PhD in MIS in 1995 from Eller, has been dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business in the University of Maryland since 2021. His research analyzes the value of social networks and sentiments embedded within text, and business value of IT. Among his research is his paper titled “Competition among Virtual Communities and User Valuation,” which received a Best Paper Award from Information Systems Research.

Ajay Vinzé, also received his PhD in MIS from Eller in 1988. He is now dean of the Donald G. Costello College of Business at George Mason University. A seasoned researcher with work published in top-tier journals, Vinzé has built a career blending academic rigor with institutional leadership.

"When I see Akhilesh and his fellow Eller alumni taking on these prestigious roles, I think about our current students and the opportunities that await them," Kannan adds. "These appointments validate our approach to developing leaders who can navigate the intersection of technology and business."