CHLOE KOWALYK
Managing Editor
SUNY Fredonia’s school of business is welcoming a new face this semester. Dr. Kaustav Misra has been named the new dean of the school of business.
But Misra isn’t just a typical incoming administrative figure — Misra is a first generation immigrant.
He came to the United States on his own, placing himself in a new country with a new environment and new people.
While Misra has been a U.S. citizen and in the United States for a while, he said, “I am still actually going through this journey and I’m loving it. [I met] a lot of good people and that is why I am here.”
Prior to accepting his position as the new dean of the school of business at Fredonia, Misra has held several leadership positions and has a vast educational background. He was a visiting assistant professor at the University of Southern Mississippi; a professor, associate professor and assistant professor at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan; and held several chair positions and served as the associate dean of the school of business at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU).
As the associate dean at CCSU, Misra focused on increasing student recruitment and retention, organized faculty workshops and helped develop new graduate programs for the university.
But now, Misra is adding a new college to his list: SUNY Fredonia. He said he chose to accept the position as dean of the school of business for two key reasons.
First, Misra said he admires regional, public schools because they are “community focused.” He pointed out that SUNY Fredonia is a community-focused college, which fits well into the environment he likes to work in.
Second, Misra said, “I loved the [faculty and students] when I visited … and I think there is a lot of opportunity to provide the students a good experience when they come to the school or to the school of business.”
While he doesn’t officially begin his position until March 6, Misra has many ideas he would like to bring to SUNY Fredonia.
Misra feels that SUNY’s school of business curriculum should be revisited and modernized. In fact, Misra said “to provide proper, current and relevant education to [his] business students” is the top priority.
Additionally, Misra hopes to develop faculty members so they can provide the best possible education to Fredonia students. Misra also hopes he can work on “developing and concentrating work on infrastructure.”
“I’m going to be concentrating on student access,” Misra said. “So as we develop new curriculum, we need to concentrate on how to give [students] the right type of internship, taking them to study abroad and giving them global experience.”
Misra also emphasized the community-focus he admires about SUNY Fredonia. He believes that if the college improves its connection with the community, the enrollment and retention numbers will increase.
Efforts to increase recruitment and retention at SUNY Fredonia are particularly important, as the college’s enrollment numbers have been on the decline within the past decade.
Not only does Misra hope to improve the school of business’ curriculum and academics, but he also wants to advocate for students.
“In my mind, I’m still in the classroom. So I see the challenges,” Misra said. “I see the students, what they face.”
He plans to ask for more student resources, modernize the curriculum, develop new computer labs, new workshops and working areas.
Misra also wants to help develop his students to become professionals. To do this, he hopes to create weekly or bi-weekly workshops in which students can listen to people working in the business industry.
Misra also wishes to help students network, and hopes that all students will be able to get at least one internship before graduation.
And, as a first generation immigrant, Misra wants to work with first generation students at SUNY Fredonia. Misra said when he was reviewing the college, he saw that a high number of Fredonia’s students are first generation.
“I have a lot of respect and interest to help first generation students grow,” he said.
SUNY Fredonia President Stephen Kolison was fond of Misra while searching for a new dean.
The college did a vast, national search to find a new dean. They even hired a search firm to help them find the perfect fit for the school of business.
According to Kolison, Misra “has quite an array of experience that [he draws] will be good for our institution.” For instance, Misra understands the accreditation process quite well. And, currently, the school of business is about to go through their accreditation process.
Kolison said he also admired how Misra “suggested some new things [and] different types of programs in the school of business that would benefit a lot of students.”
The president also wanted to emphasize how Misra would be accessible to students. Although he is an administrative figure, Misra is someone who students can go to with any questions they may have.
However, many may wonder why SUNY Fredonia has just hired a new dean, despite having financial difficulties.
Kolison explains that “a stable, effective and empowered leadership matters,” and that it is much more beneficial for the college to have the dean of the school of business position filled, rather than having interim deans. Since Kolison came into the college in 2020, there had been two interim deans of the school of business. But now, the position is filled.
With a stable leadership, Kolison says that the college will be better off for the accreditation process and applying for grants.