Pace University Names Former Citi Executive As Dean Of Lubin School Of Business

Pace University’s Lubin School of Business will have a new dean September 1

Pace University has tapped Ajay Khorana, a former Citigroup global treasurer with deep roots in academia, as the next dean of its Lubin School of Business. His appointment, effective September 1, 2025, follows an extensive nationwide search.

Pace President Marvin Krislov says Khorana’s mix of industry experience, scholarship, and leadership will be a boon for the school and its location just steps from the heart of global finance.

“Ajay Khorana is a transformational leader who brings both real-world experience and academic depth to Pace,” Krislov says in a news release. “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.”

TWO DECADES AT CITI, ACADEMIC CAREER BEFORE THAT

Ajay Khorana: “Lubin has a strong foundation of academic excellence and career preparation. … There’s no better place to connect business education with the center of the financial world”

Khorana comes to Pace from Citigroup, where he most recently served as global treasurer for the U.S. Personal Banking and Global Wealth businesses. In that role, he oversaw strategic financial planning, risk management, and capital allocation for a $400 billion balance sheet.

Over nearly two decades at the bank, he also served as global head of the Financial Strategy Group, advising Fortune 500 companies on mergers and acquisitions, capital structure, shareholder strategy, and corporate governance.

Before joining Citi, Khorana spent more than a decade in higher education, with faculty appointments at Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. His research has been published in leading academic journals, and he has earned recognition for his teaching.

“It is an honor to join Pace University and lead the Lubin School of Business,” Khorana says. “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.”

A SCHOOL WITH NATIONAL RECOGNITION

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

Lubin is among the small percentage of business schools worldwide to hold dual AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting. The school has earned recognition for its graduate and online MBA programs, as well as specialized rankings in finance, arts and entertainment management, human resources, and doctoral programs. In Poets&Quants‘ most recent ranking, the Lubin School ranked 91st, up from 95th the year before.

Jonathan H. Hill, Pace’s interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, calls Khorana’s appointment a pivotal moment for Lubin.

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

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