ASHLAND, Ohio – Lance Kaltenbaugh, Ed.D., a member of the Ashland University faculty since 2000, has been named interim dean of the Dauch College of Business and Economics (COBE), effective Aug. 16. He had been serving as associate dean of COBE and will replace Dan Fox, J.D., who is returning to a faculty position this fall after serving as dean since 2023.
“President (Jon Parrish) Peede and I are excited to see Lance step into this role and guide the Dauch College of Business and Economics at this time,” stated Gregory McBrayer, Ph.D., interim provost. “Lance has been an outstanding member of our campus community for more than two decades, and his work as associate dean has shown him to be forward thinking, collaborative and deeply invested in the success of our students.”
“I am honored to step into the role of interim dean and excited to continue serving the College of Business and Economics,” added Kaltenbaugh. “I look forward to working collaboratively with our outstanding faculty, staff and students to build on our strong academic foundation and advance our mission of academic excellence, innovation and student success.”
As associate dean, Kaltenbaugh played a key role in COBE securing accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) as well as the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Fewer than six percent of the world’s schools offering business degree programs hold AACSB accreditation.
As an associate professor of sport management, Kaltenbaugh has taught classes while developing the program into a highly respected and popular academic offering at AU. Notable, he serves as the sport management internship coordinator, and with his connections, has helped hundreds of AU students attain valuable intern positions.
Kaltenbaugh was department chair for marketing, fashion merchandising and sport management for several years and has served on numerous university committees and task forces. His impressive record of academic and professional excellence includes the publication of more than 10 peer-reviewed articles and 45 presentations at international, national and regional conferences. He earned a coveted AU Academic Mentor Award in 2005-06.
Kaltenbaugh holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in therapeutic recreation from the University of Toledo and a doctorate in educational foundations and leadership from the University of Akron.
AU’s College of Business and Economics offers a wide variety of undergraduate academic programs, ranging from traditional disciplines like accounting, finance, management and marketing to more specialized areas like entrepreneurship, fashion merchandising, sport management and its newest offering, industrial and systems engineering. There is also a top-rated MBA program that features a variety of formats and specializations to advance one’s career.
COBE also houses the Burton D. Morgan Center for Free Enterprise & Entrepreneurship, devoted to encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation of all AU students, no matter their major. The center provides expertise, support, education and connections to help turn one’s passion into a profitable business idea.
