Pace University has appointed Ajay Khorana, Ph.D., as Dean of its Lubin School of Business and professor of finance, following a nationwide search. He will assume the role on September 1, 2025.
Khorana joins Pace after an accomplished career spanning both the corporate world and academia. Most recently, he served as global treasurer for U.S. Personal Banking and Global Wealth at Citigroup, where he managed strategic financial planning, risk oversight, and capital allocation for a balance sheet exceeding $400 billion. Over nearly two decades with Citi, he held senior leadership roles, including global head of the Financial Strategy Group, advising Fortune 500 companies on mergers, acquisitions, capital structures, shareholder strategies, and corporate governance.
Before his tenure at Citigroup, Khorana built a distinguished academic career with faculty positions at Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. His research has appeared in leading scholarly journals, and he is recognized for his engaging teaching and mentorship.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Khorana said, “It is an honor to join Pace University and lead the Lubin School of Business. Lubin’s legacy of academic excellence and career preparation is unmatched. I look forward to partnering with faculty, students, alumni, and industry leaders to drive innovation and impact. There’s no better place to connect business education with the heart of the financial world.”
Pace University President Marvin Krislov lauded Khorana’s track record in global finance and higher education, calling him “a transformational leader” with the ability to unite industry expertise and academic rigor. He emphasized that Khorana’s strategic vision will strengthen Lubin’s reputation and expand opportunities for students and faculty, particularly given the school’s proximity to Wall Street.
The Lubin School of Business is a nationally ranked leader in business education, known for producing career-ready graduates. It is among the elite two percent of business schools worldwide to hold dual AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting, a testament to its academic excellence and professional relevance.
