Pace University Appoints Ajay Khorana Dean of the Lubin School of Business

After an extensive nationwide search, Pace University today announced the appointment of Ajay Khorana, Ph.D., as Dean of the Lubin School of Business and professor of finance, effective September 1, 2025.

Pace President Marvin Krislov praised Khorana’s impressive background in global finance, commitment to student and institutional success, and ability to bridge industry and academia.

“Ajay Khorana is a transformational leader who brings both real-world experience and academic depth to Pace,” said President Krislov. “His global perspective and strategic vision will enhance Lubin’s programs and reputation and expand opportunities for our students and faculty, especially here in Lower Manhattan where our campus is just blocks from Wall Street and Citigroup’s global headquarters.”

Prior to his appointment at Pace, Dean Khorana served as global treasurer for the U.S. Personal Banking and Global Wealth businesses at Citigroup, overseeing strategic financial planning, risk management, and capital allocation for a $400 billion balance sheet. Over nearly 20 years at Citi, he held several high-level roles, including global head of the Financial Strategy Group, where he advised Fortune 500 companies on mergers and acquisitions, capital structure, shareholder strategy, and corporate governance.

Before his time at Citi, Khorana spent more than a decade in academia, including faculty appointments at Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. A respected scholar and teacher, his research has been published in leading academic journals, and he is recognized for inspiring excellence in the classroom.

“It is an honor to join Pace University and lead the Lubin School of Business,” said Dean Khorana. “Lubin has a strong foundation of academic excellence and career preparation. I look forward to collaborating with faculty, students, alumni, and industry partners to build on that legacy and drive continued innovation and impact. There’s no better place to connect business education with the center of the financial world.”

The Lubin School of Business at Pace University is a nationally ranked leader in business education, known for preparing graduates for career success and upward mobility. Lubin holds dual accreditation in both business and accounting by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)— an elite distinction shared by fewer than 2 percent of business schools worldwide. The school is recognized for:
– Being the first U.S. business school to earn exemptions for ACCA certification in accounting
– Having one of the nation’s top graduate online MBA programs, according to U.S. News & World Report
– Offering one of the best on-campus MBA programs, according to The Princeton Review’s Best Business Schools for 2025
– Earning CFA Institute and GARP recognition for excellence in finance programs
– Being ranked among LinkedIn’s Top 100 MBA programs
– Having the No. 3 ranked BBA in Arts and Entertainment Management, according to TopManagementDegree.com
– Offering a top five best value executive-style doctoral program in business in the United States, according to BestValueSchools.org
– Being ranked No. 1 in New York for a bachelor’s in human resources management (College Factual)
– Earning national recognition for online business programs from UniversityHQ and Online Master’s Colleges (OMC)

Pace University overall is ranked among the top 9 percent of private colleges nationwide for return on investment (PayScale), is included in Forbes’ Top Colleges 2024 list, and has been named one of America’s Best Colleges by the Wall Street Journal and The Princeton Review.

“Dean Khorana brings exactly the kind of visionary leadership we need to shape the future of business education at Pace,” said Jonathan H. Hill, DPS, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “His unique blend of high-level industry experience and academic integrity will serve as a catalyst for Lubin’s continued growth and global relevance.”

Khorana earned his Ph.D. in finance from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and an MBA in finance from Wake Forest University’s School of Business. He holds a B.A. in economics with honors and a minor in mathematics from the University of Delhi.

Press Release: Pace University Appoints Ajay Khorana Dean of the Lubin School of Business