Mohammad Merhi is second ESU business dean candidate
Emporia, KS (05/01/2026) — The second of three candidates being considered as the next dean of Emporia State's School of Business and Technology will meet the community at a forum on Monday, May 4.
Mohammad I. Merhi, an Emporia alum and professor and associate dean at Indiana University at South Bend, will meet community at 4:30 p.m. Monday, May 4, at Sauder Alumni Center, 1500 Highland St.
A second on-campus open presentation will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday May 5, in Cremer Hall Room 205, the Roe R. Cross Room.
Meerhi holds a master of business administration degree in computer information systems from ESU. He earned a Ph.D. in business administration from The University of Texas-Pan American (now The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) with a concentration area in computer information systems.
He joined IU South Bend inn 2014 as assistant professor of decision sciences. He now is professor or decision sciences (information systems and analytics) and associate dean and coordinator in the Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics at IU South Bend.
Merhi's full curriculum vitae is online.
The first candidate visited Emporia on April 30 and May 1. One more candidate will visit on May 7-8. The next dean follows Ed Bashaw, who retired from ESU at the end of the 2024-25 academic year. Internal administrators have served as interim deans since May 2025.
About Emporia State University
Emporia State University offers a range of academic programs through its seven schools: Applied Health Sciences, Business and Technology, Humanities and Social Sciences, Library and Information Management and Library and Archives, Science and Mathematics and Visual and Performing Arts, along with The Teachers College.
ESU stands out for its innovative education practices. It ensures accessible education by offering in-state tuition rates to full-time undergraduate students from all lower-48 United States. Additionally, full-time undergraduates benefit from flat-rate tuition - students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours with at least one credit hour on campus pay a flat rate.
For more information on how to build your future at Emporia State University, please visit www.emporia.edu.
Emporia State University
Gwendolynne Larson, ESU director of media relations, (620) 341-5528, glarson1@emporia.eduShare this Story
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