Citigroup Business Treasurer and academic leader brings industry perspective and bold vision to lead Pace’s nationally ranked business school

After an extensive nationwide search, Pace University today announced the appointment of Ajay Khorana, Ph.D., as Dean of the Lubin School of Business and professor of finance, effective September 1, 2025.

Pace President Marvin Krislov praised Khorana’s impressive background in global finance, commitment to student and institutional success, and ability to bridge industry and academia.

“Ajay Khorana is a transformational leader who brings both real-world experience and academic depth to Pace,” said President Krislov. “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.”

Prior to his appointment at Pace, Dean Khorana served as global treasurer for the U.S. Personal Banking and Global Wealth businesses at Citigroup, overseeing strategic financial planning, risk management, and capital allocation for a $400 billion balance sheet. Over nearly 20 years at Citi, he held several high-level roles, including global head of the Financial Strategy Group, where he advised Fortune 500 companies on mergers and acquisitions, capital structure, shareholder strategy, and corporate governance.

Before his time at Citi, Khorana spent more than a decade in academia, including faculty appointments at Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. A respected scholar and teacher, his research has been published in leading academic journals, and he is recognized for inspiring excellence in the classroom.

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

The Lubin School of Business at Pace University is a nationally ranked leader in business education, known for preparing graduates for career success and upward mobility. Lubin holds dual accreditation in both business and accounting by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)— an elite distinction shared by fewer than 2 percent of business schools worldwide. The school is recognized for:

• Being the first U.S. business school to earn exemptions for ACCA certification in accounting
• Having one of the nation’s top graduate online MBA programs, according to U.S. News & World Report
• Offering one of the best on-campus MBA programs, according to The Princeton Review’s Best Business Schools for 2025
• Earning CFA Institute and GARP recognition for excellence in finance programs
• Being ranked among LinkedIn’s Top 100 MBA programs
• Having the No. 3 ranked BBA in Arts and Entertainment Management, according to TopManagementDegree.com
• Offering a top five best value executive-style doctoral program in business in the United States, according to BestValueSchools.org
• Being ranked No. 1 in New York for a bachelor’s in human resources management (College Factual)
• Earning national recognition for online business programs from UniversityHQ and Online Master’s Colleges (OMC)

Pace University overall is ranked among the top 9 percent of private colleges nationwide for return on investment (PayScale), is included in Forbes’ Top Colleges 2024 list, and has been named one of America’s Best Colleges by the Wall Street Journal and The Princeton Review.

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

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

About Pace University

Since 1906, Pace University has been transforming the lives of its diverse students—academically, professionally, and socioeconomically. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to 13,600 students in its College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, Sands College of Performing Arts, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

About the Lubin School of Business at Pace University

Globally recognized and prestigiously accredited, the Lubin School of Business integrates New York City’s business world into the experienced-based education of its students at Pace’s suburban and downtown campuses, implemented by one of the region’s largest co-op programs, team-based learning, and customized career guidance. Its programs are designed to launch success-oriented graduates toward upwardly mobile careers.

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After the passing of two long-term and dedicated Alumni Board Members, the Honorable Sandra A. Forster ’79 and Adele Lerman Janow ’90, the Alumni Board decided to establish an Immediate Impact Scholarship to commemorate the lives of these esteemed alumnae, The Adele Janow and Judge Sandra Forster Memorial Scholarship. In addition to being lively presences on the Board and extremely committed to the betterment of the Law School, both were respected members of the Westchester community and beyond. Through the generosity of the alumni board along with the family and friends of Judge Forster and Adele Janow, law student Reese Frisch ’26 was awarded the memorial scholarship.

“Attending law school has been the toughest challenge I’ve ever faced, and it hasn’t been easy,” shared scholarship recipient Reese Frisch ’26. “My commitment to justice drives everything I do, shaping both my academic and professional journey as I prepare for a career dedicated to advocacy and meaningful change. I am deeply grateful for the support of this scholarship, which has made it possible for me to continue pursuing my goals.”

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From a cattle farm in Illinois to a law office in Manhattan, Cari Rincker ’07 has built a career at the intersection of agriculture, law, and advocacy. Founder of Rincker Law PLLC, a firm focused on food, agriculture, and family law, Cari has forged her own path as a lawyer, educator, author, and podcast host—all while staying rooted in her rural beginnings and passionate about helping others navigate complex legal landscapes.

When Cari Rincker ’07 was young, she wanted to be a lawyer but did not know many lawyers or fully understand what they did. After obtaining degrees in Agriculture Science and Animal Science, Cari realized that a law degree would allow her to pursue her passion in these areas and help others. Once Cari decided to apply to law school, she knew that the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University was where she wanted to pursue her degree. “Pace Haub Law had the combination I was looking for – its geography and excellent environmental law program were perfect for me. I will never forget, I was living in Rome, Italy at the time and volunteering with the Food & Agriculture Organization – I cried with happiness when I got the news that I was accepted.”

Cari’s time at the Law School was filled with passionate professors and interesting courses. “My biggest wake-up call was with Professor Ann Powers and the environmental skills course. It was there I learned how to really read, analyze, and understand statutes and corresponding regulations. I also loved my Land Use Law course with Professor John Nolon and oftentimes think of those concepts today. Surprisingly, though, my favorite class was tax law with Professor Bridget Crawford. She is an incredibly talented professor who uses fantastic examples to bring concepts to life and keep you interested.”

In 2009, only two short years after graduating from law school with certificates in both environmental law and international law, Cari launched her own practice, Rincker Law PLLC, focused on food and agriculture law. “My passion for agriculture issues is deeply rooted. I grew up on a seedstock Simmental cattle operation in Shelbyville, Illinois where I worked on my family’s farm. While I had degrees prior to law school in these areas, the education I received at Pace Haub Law really brought it all together for me. I was immersed in environmental law classes that were both challenging and enlightening, and gave me the confidence to continue pursuing a career in these specific areas of law.”When she graduated from the Law School, Cari knew that she wanted to serve different segments of the food and agriculture industry, but she wanted to do it in New York City.

You have to jump. I know it’s scary and you have no clue if your wings will open or if you will tumble down the cliff. But at some point, you have to jump.

“In order to pursue these areas of law in New York City I needed to pave my own path and do it on my own, so that is what I did.” On the risk of starting her own practice, Cari acknowledged the fears that often accompany it. “You have to jump. I know it’s scary and you have no clue if your wings will open or if you will tumble down the cliff. But at some point, you have to jump.” Cari recalls the early days of launching her firm in a small studio apartment on the Upper East Side. To fund her dream, she did contract attorney work in New York until her law practice was self-sustaining. Cari also started taking on different types of cases, which included a divorce case, and then a few more divorce cases. Before she knew it, Cari had found an additional passion in family law. Eventually, Cari built her practice up case by case and client by client and moved her office to a space near Grand Central Station. Today, Rincker Law, PLLC is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois with two satellite offices in both Shelbyville and New York City. “I grew up on a farm in Illinois, I attended graduate school in Illinois, and much of my family is in Illinois,” shared Cari. “To eventually move the headquarters of my practice to Illinois made sense and fortunately, I am able to maintain my client base in New York City seamlessly with technology today.”

Cari is also a trained mediator and passionate about alternative dispute resolution. “I love it in so many ways, but mostly because it helps preserve family relationships. Mediation also helps people have their own autonomy over their own agreements that hopefully will stick.” Cari also teaches mediation and agriculture and environmental law at the University of Illinois and an online course at Vermont Law School. “I love reaching that moment in the semester where you can tell it’s all clicking.”

Not one to slow down, Cari is also a published author. “I believe that one of the best ways you can be a good lawyer and stay abreast of all the constantly evolving laws and regulations is to read, research, and write.” Cari has authored four books and manages an award-winning Food, Farm and Family law blog. “Being a resource to the community is of paramount importance to me and my law practice.”

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In the last few years, Cari has also added podcasting to her resume, launching The Billable Mom in 2024, where she talks about working motherhood, with a focus on lawyers and other professionals. “As a working mom of two, the impetus for this podcast was very personal. I wanted to speak candidly about working motherhood and the struggles to juggle it all.” In her podcast, Cari and her guests explore time management tips, productivity hacks, and delve into a variety of issues including maternity leave, making time for yourself, and more. “Balancing a career and the demands of motherhood can feel overwhelming. I wanted to provide a platform to share that we are not alone in our struggles, while also providing practical tips and advice to help navigate it.”