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Kevin Trainor, School of Business dean
Carroll University is proud to announce Dr. Kevin Trainor as the new dean for the School of Business.
Trainor joins Carroll from Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he was a professor of marketing and founding director of the Professional Selling Program at The W.A. Franke College of Business. He brings over 25 years of experience in marketing, customer relationship management, student success initiatives, program development and technology implementation.
During his 11 years at NAU, Trainor held several administrative positions including associate dean, overseeing college academic affairs and student services. Trainor holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Kent State University, a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Management Information Systems from University of Arizona.
Prior to his career in academia, Trainor spent over a decade in the private sector, where he worked as a software developer and product manager. He was responsible for the development and deployment of software and technology products at DHL, Prudential Financial, Sage Software and Ernst & Young.
In his new role, Trainor will oversee Carroll’s School of Business. He is expected to work on the University’s Strategic Plan, AACSB accreditation implementation, new curriculum development and partnerships with our local community to meet their business needs.
“Dr. Trainor was chosen for this role because he is a passionate marketing educator with significant industry, teaching and administrative experience in higher education,” said Dr. Cindy Gnadinger, President of Carroll University. “We are excited to have him lead our innovative School of Business at this time, as he has the necessary skillset to foster greater collaboration between the University and the business community.”
Additionally, Trainor is an active academic researcher with over 20 published journal articles, including publications in Journal of Business Research, Industrial Marketing Management, European Journal of Marketing, Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, Marketing Management Journal and Decision Support Systems.
“I am thrilled to be part of the Carroll community,” said Trainor, “I look forward to building relationships and collaborating with local business leaders, community leaders and alumni. We have a strong cadre of dedicated faculty, and we are eager to engage with these constituents to deliver high-quality academic programs that are responsive to workforce needs and enhance our students’ educational experiences.”
Trainor added that he is excited for the opportunity to build on Carroll’s excellent reputation of fostering students’ professional success, informed civic engagement and lifelong learning.
Trainor is married and has three children. His wife, Kris, is originally from Wisconsin and they have a large extended family in Waukesha County. His official start date was Friday, July 1.
To learn more about the School of Business, visit www.carrollu.edu/academics/business.
Carroll University
Carroll University was incorporated in 1846, making it Wisconsin’s first four-year institution of higher learning. Situated in Waukesha, the independent, co-educational comprehensive university is grounded in the liberal arts tradition, and offers more than 95 areas of study, multiple graduate programs and a clinical doctorate in physical therapy. For more information, visit www.carrollu.edu, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.