University of Evansville Invests Dr. Walayet Khan as Mead Johnson Nutrition Endowed Chair in BusinessRead full article…

Posted: Friday, April 10, 2026
By: Ian Leonhardt, Advancement Communications Coordinator

The University of Evansville (UE) formally invested Walayet Khan, PhD, as the Mead Johnson Nutrition Endowed Chair in Business during a ceremony on April 10 in Neu Chapel.

The ceremony recognized Khan's long-standing contributions as a teacher, scholar, and mentor, as well as his impact on generations of students in UE's Schroeder Family School of Business Administration.

"Endowed chairs represent one of the highest honors a university can bestow upon a member of its faculty," said UE President Christopher Pietruszkiewicz. "They reflect a deep commitment to academic excellence and help ensure that our students learn from faculty who inspire, challenge, and prepare them to lead with purpose."

Established in 1993 through a gift from Mead Johnson Nutrition and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, the endowed chair supports outstanding faculty in the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration and strengthens business education at the University. Originally known as the Bristol-Myers Squibb Chair, the position reflects a long-standing relationship between Mead Johnson and UE, dating to the University's move to Evansville in 1919 and sustained through decades of alumni engagement, advisory service, and community partnership.

Khan joined the University of Evansville in 1989 and serves as Professor of Finance. He earned his PhD in finance from the University of Arkansas and has built a distinguished career in teaching, research, and service. He has presented research at national and international conferences, with recent work focusing on market volatility, uncertainty, and real estate diversification. Beyond the classroom, he has consulted with organizations including the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, the Chicago Stock Exchange, Attain, Kaplan Schweser, and Evansville's Signature School.

Khan also directs the Purple Aces Student-Managed Investment Fund, which has grown to more than $1 million and gives students hands-on experience managing investments and applying financial theory in practice.

"Dr. Khan exemplifies the very best of our faculty," said Dr. Yolanda Obaze, Associate Dean and Professor of Business. "He is a dedicated teacher, a productive scholar, and a mentor who has shaped the lives and careers of countless students."

Throughout his career at UE, Khan has received numerous honors, including the University's Outstanding Teacher of the Year award, Global Scholar Awards, and multiple recognitions as an outstanding researcher within the Schroeder School.