Kutztown University has named Dr. Jeffrey Wehrung as associate dean of the College of Business. Wehrung comes to KU after 10 years at Black Hills State University and started at KU on August 3.
Wehrung has served since 2012 at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota. In her most recent role as special assistant to the provost, Wehrung was responsible for coordinating academic programs for the transition to a new location at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Oversaw curriculum development for the Hospitality and Business Center and the Health Administration program.
“I’ve traveled the country and no matter where I’ve lived, Pennsylvania has always been my home,” Wehrung said. “Two of my great-grandparents went to Kutztown when it was a teachers college, and the college has always played such an important role in the region.
“This is a particularly exciting time for KU’s College of Business,” Wehrung continued. “Putting students first sometimes requires overturning old industry norms. The new stackable MBA model is designed to meet workforce needs in data analysis, leadership and strategic decision-making, preparing students for jobs that didn’t exist a decade ago. This is the bold innovation the region needs and will set KU apart as a leader in the field.”
Dr. Wehrung served as President of the Black Hills School of Business from 2018-2021, where he oversaw all full-time and adjunct business faculty serving students at both locations. Wehrung’s primary responsibilities included leading the strategic plan, setting annual goals, participating in fundraising, recruiting and training new faculty, representing the university in the business community, and leading accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Wehrung’s efforts as chair led to a 15% increase in credit hour production, significant alumni support for the entrepreneurship program, the creation of regional and international partnerships, and the construction of a new finance lab.
Wehrung was also Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, Provost Fellow and Director of the Center for Business, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (CBET) at Black Hills. Prior to joining the administration, Wehrung was heavily involved with shared governance, serving five years as a university representative on the Faculty Senate, secretary and vice president of the senate.
“I am delighted to welcome Jeff to the College of Business leadership team,” said Dr. Anne Carroll, dean of the College of Business. “His combination of professional, academic and leadership experience will be valuable in moving the College of Business forward to continue to meet the needs of students and employers.”
Prior to his academic career, Wehrung was a Quality Assurance Manager for several precast concrete and concrete pipe manufacturing facilities, as well as a sales engineer in the wastewater treatment industry. He is a consultant and advisor to various businesses in the precast concrete and building supply industries, advising on leadership development and employee retention programs.
Wehrung earned a Master of Science in Management and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the University of Texas at Austin. Wehrung also received an MBA in Human Resource Management from Brigham Young University and a BA in Engineering and Technology Management from Brown University.
Kutztown University’s College of Business has earned specialized accreditations: Commission on Sports Management Accreditation (COSMA) for the Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and AACSB for the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Masters of Business Administration. The Department of Business Administration offers nine undergraduate programs: Accounting, Finance, Entrepreneurship, General Business, Human Resource Management, Personal Financial Planning, Management, Marketing, Supply Chain Management and several minor programs: Business, Economics, Entrepreneurship and Supply Chain Management and Logistics.
Our accreditations that mark our studies as programs of distinction; Our award-winning and accredited Small Business Development Center, along with the Entrepreneurial Leadership Center, establish us as a key member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania business community; our forward-thinking faculty, who expertly balance teaching and research; and our close relationships with some of the world’s largest businesses position us as one of the top value-added business schools in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
