Faulkner senior Travis Armstrong was presented the inaugural Dr. Dave Khadanga Distinguished Student Award during the Spring Academic Award Ceremony. Dr. Rosie Khadanga presented the award in honor of her late husband.
The award is to honor and memorialize the late Dr. Dave Khadanga who served as Dean of the College of Business for almost four decades.
This award is for the College of Business student who best represents the ideals of Faulkner University and its mission, who is respected by the faculty of the College of Business, and who shows integrity and humility. The recipient should be known for their Christian character, and should live out Colossians 3:23 in their daily life. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”
Armstrong graduated with an Accounting degree in May and will begin work for the Local Government Health Insurance Board, a health insurance plan that provides the benefits for local government entities across Alabama.
“Dr. Khadanga was a fixture and stalwart at Faulkner University and his untimely passing has left our community in shock. He served as Dean of the College of Business for almost four decades and under his leadership, it remained the financial pillar of our institution,” said Dr. Dave Rampersad, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “The introduction of executive undergraduate degree programs in the late 1980s, the university’s first master’s program in the late 1990s, and online graduate and undergraduate degrees in the early 2010s are among a few of his notable achievements. The college presently offers a robust slate of traditional undergraduate programs as well as both undergraduate and graduate executive programs and constitutes over 25% of the university’s total enrollment. He leaves an indelible mark on the university and was a dear friend and colleague. The Faulkner story cannot be told without him and he will be sorely missed.”
Dr. Dave Khadanga worked at Faulkner University since 1985 when he accepted an appointment as Assistant Professor of Business Administration. He began serving as the dean of the Harris College of Business & Executive Education in 1988. Khadanga attended Utkal University in Odisha, India and earned the following degrees: Bachelor of Commerce; Master of Commerce; Ph.D in Personnel Management and LLB (Bachelor of Laws). He also earned an MBA from Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Alabama. He was a member of the American Management Association, the Academy of Management and the Society for Human Resource Management. Although serving as dean, Khadanga continued to teach several business courses on both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
In 1988, Khadanga created the Executive Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program. At this time, he also substantially enhanced the B.S. in Management of Human Resources (MHR) program. Later, in 1997, he led development and implementation of the Master of Science in Management (M.S.M.) program. He also led the development and implementation of the Executive MBA program.
His desire to teach was motivated by his desire to “instill knowledge among those desiring to learn” and was also motivated “by the opportunity of influencing, shaping and molding the lives of young people.”
“Dr. Dave Khadanga and Dr. Rosie Khadanga are dearly loved by the Faulkner family. Their work together has touched many lives. We all grieve for Rosie and her entire family because of this tragic and unexpected loss. Dr. Dave Khadanga’s faith in Jesus Christ gives us assurance and hope that arises from the resurrection. Our prayers continue for this good family and all those who are touched by his passing,” said Faulkner President Mitch Henry.
