Yash Gupta

India native has global education background

In the final round of the presidential candidate forums, Yash Gupta, dean and professor of operations management for the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, will be the last candidate to speak to UA students and staff.

Gupta, who was born in India, served as dean and professor of Operations Management for the University of Washington from 1999 to 2004.

While at the UW, Gupta nearly doubled enrollment in the MBA programs, raising about $50 million for a new building while promoting ties with Microsoft, www.amazon.com and Safeco, according to his biography from the Marshall School of Business.

"He did a lot for the business school," said Clark McCann, director of communications for the University of Washington.

McCann said Gupta was a driving force for the university.

"He kept the school re-energized with a strategic plan and a fundraising campaign for a new building," McCann said.

McCann said Gupta's experience comes from having been dean of three different business schools.

"He's well-thought-of here and well-respected and we were sorry to see him leave," McCann said.

McCann also spoke well of Gupta's personality, describing him as "outgoing and energetic and personable."

Prior to his work in Washington, Gupta was dean and professor of management in the College of Business Administration at the University of Colorado-Denver from 1992 to 1999.

While Gupta was at the UC, he turned a young business school into one of the state's most quickly growing business schools by adding new programs, five research centers and a board of advisers while fostering a prominent reputation in the Denver business community, according to his biography.

Gupta was also the Frazier Family Professor in the School of Business at the University of Louisville from 1988 to 1992, and has held faculty positions at the University of Manitoba, the Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Bradford.

Gupta completed his schooling in both India and England. He received a master's degree in production from Brunel University of West London and a doctorate in management sciences from the University of Bradford.

The student forum will take place at 2:15 p.m. in the North Ballroom of the Student Union Memorial Center, followed by a forum for faculty and staff at 3:30 p.m.