Beacom School announces new Associate Dean, Department Chair

The Beacom School of Business announced a new interim associate dean and interim chair of economics and decision sciences division on Nov. 3

Kathryn Birkeland was announced as the interim associate dean and Thomas Tiahrt the interim chair of the economics and decision sciences division. Both will start their new positions on Jan. 1. 

Tiahrt is taking Birkeland’s current position as the chair, and Birkeland is taking over for the current Associate Dean Dee Vee Dykstra. Dykstra is stepping down to return to faculty in the role of a tenured full professor.

“Dr. Birkeland is an outstanding teacher and researcher, and she continues to provide highly distinguished service to the Beacom School of Business and USD,” Venky Venkatachalam, Dean of the Beacom School of Business, said in a press release last Tuesday. “She brings significant talent, energy, and innovative ideas on our continued efforts to achieve national and global recognition for the Beacom School of Business.”

Tiahrt is currently an associate professor of decision sciences. He is also the program coordinator for the Master of Science in Business Analytics and undergraduate operational analytics major.

“Dr. Tiahrt has been instrumental in developing the analytics program at the Beacom School of Business. I look forward to his leadership support and collaboration as a member of the Beacom Executive Committee,” Venkatachalam said in the press release.