Harvey Kahalas, Dean and Professor

Notable Quote 
“Since early childhood, I had always dreamed about being a teacher: the idea of teaching and learning has been a fundamental cornerstone of my life. After my family and my personal beliefs, my work as an educator has been my driving force. One wonderful aspect of my life has been my interaction with students. They have allowed me to find the proverbial “Fountain of Youth”. Although a person may grow older, since the students always remain about the same age, the teacher never feels that he or she is getting older. It is a wonderful life.”

Notable Vignette
My educational development as a student has always been enhanced by my interactions with my faculty. As an undergraduate I had been asked to participate with a senior faculty member in the development of one of his research papers. That was my first exposure, experience, and understanding of the research process. It truly impacted my entire career focus. And what a surprise when the paper was published and I saw my name in print for the first time – it was a thrilling experience.

What excites me about Stuart
The Stuart School of Business is a truly unique opportunity for an educational experience. A technological-oriented school with an outstanding and committed faculty that have extensive academic and practitioner experience coupled with students from across the globe, Stuart and IIT offers a unique educational experience. The StuartSchool’s approach to education is predicated upon the concept of developing a distinctive graduate who is strategically competitive when compared to graduates from other universities.

My Teaching Philosophy
A true educational experience in business must integrate the external world of the practitioner with the theoretical knowledge of the educator. Therefore, I feel that a balance of these concepts is essential for a true understanding of business. Within the classroom, all students must feel that it is an opportunity for learning and teaching that must occur on the part of all participants.

My Teaching/Research Interests
Economic development and strategic competitiveness are the two fundamental aspects of my academic focus. Both areas are futuristically based and are designed to enable the business organizations to become involved in the larger societal issues facing the individual and the business entity in today’s complex and globally competitive world – these approaches utilize all the traditional aspects of business but are enhanced by the components of creativity, innovation, leadership, and sustainability.