_{Raj Agnihotri, professor of marketing at Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business, has been promoted to assistant dean for industry engagement, a new role for the university.}

_{Agnihotri will focus on the Ivy Custom Education Program, which launched last year, and the Ivy Sales Forum, a collaboration between academics and industry.}

_{The Custom Education Program provides customized professional development for businesses and organizations statewide, according to a news release. The program develops and delivers two types of programs: training programs to increase employee skills and executive education programs to help executives take on higher responsibilities.}

“This initiative provides me with an opportunity to serve both the university and Iowa businesses as we bring the expertise of our faculty to organizations pursuing learning journeys,” Agnihotri said in a prepared statement. “It’s a great way to retain the best employees and make them even more effective.”

Agnihotri led the creation of the Ivy Sales Forum when he joined the Ivy College of Business in 2018. It aims to advance the effectiveness of professional sales and works with corporate partners to provide professional sales certificate students with relevant experiential learning opportunities.

“As the college expands engagement with companies around Iowa, through our Custom Education program and the Ivy Sales Forum, there was a need to have a senior position lead these important efforts,” Michele Appelgate, Ivy College of Business marketing and communications director, said in a statement emailed to the Business Record. “Our expanding partnerships with local businesses are flourishing, and the services we offer are proving to be invaluable assets to these companies and their employees.”

Before entering education, Agnihotri held several sales and marketing positions. He currently serves on the boards of startups based in the United States, Europe and India.

Raisbeck Endowed Dean David Spalding said the new role helps the college combine the growth of its programs with Agnihotri’s leadership in ” building and strengthening industry relationships.”