OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Dr. Ali Malekzadeh Biography

Ali R. Malekzadeh, Ph.D., the sixth president of Roosevelt University, is an expert in strategic management, an accomplished fundraiser and a visionary academic leader who has served in higher education for more than 20 years.

Malekzadeh believes that access to higher education is every American’s right and one of the pathways to living the American Dream. At Roosevelt, he champions the University’s mission of social justice. He is passionate about women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, affirmative action and access to higher education.

One of Malekzadeh’s signature accomplishments is the creation of the annual American Dream Reconsidered Conference, a free public event that invites scholars, activists and leaders to explore the modern American Dream. The conference has hosted speakers such as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, artist/activist Common and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Malekzadeh is also the host of the University podcast And Justice for All, which explores the relationship between education and justice.

Since becoming Roosevelt’s president in 2015, Malekzadeh has raised tens of millions for student scholarships and grants. Under his leadership, the integration of Roosevelt University and Robert Morris University Illinois was approved by the Higher Learning Commission in March 2020.

Malekzadeh is a strong advocate for faculty research and innovation and has established a Professional Mentoring Program for students. During his tenure, Roosevelt has expanded services for veterans and students with disabilities, and introduced new programs for students of color.

Prior to Roosevelt, Malekzadeh served as the Edgerley Family Dean of the College of Business Administration at Kansas State University, where he increased annual fundraising from an average of $2 million to more than $40 million, and led the business college in raising funds for a new business education building.

Before becoming dean at Kansas State in 2011, Malekzadeh spent a combined 13 years as dean of the business schools at Xavier University in Cincinnati and St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota. At St. Cloud State, Malekzadeh also served for one year as interim vice president for academic affairs, and was named outstanding administrator among 32 campuses of Minnesota State University. He previously held key administrative positions at Arizona State University West in Phoenix and taught strategic management at Northeastern University in Boston.

Malekzadeh earned his doctorate in business administration with an emphasis on strategic management from the University of Utah, and a bachelor’s in management and Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver. Malekzadeh is also a member of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.

Malekzadeh and his wife, Dr. Afsaneh Nahavandi, professor of leadership at the University of San Diego, have co-authored two books: Organizational Behavior: The Person- Organization Fit and Organizational Culture in the Management of Mergers. He has also written dozens of business-related articles and book chapters. Malekzadeh and Nahavandi have two daughters and one granddaughter.

Past Presidents

Edward Sparling (1945-1963)

Robert Pitchell (1964-1965)

Rolf Weil (1965-1988)

Ted Gross (1988-2002)

Chuck Middleton (2002-2015)

Ali R. Malekzadeh (2015-Current)

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