On July 1, Labh Hira will begin a three-year term as dean of the College of Business. The hiring was announced early Monday.

“Labh is a very well-respected faculty member of the College of Business, and he will be an outstanding dean and leader for the college,” said Benjamin Allen, provost and interim vice president for external affairs.

Hira was unavailable for comment.

Ronald Hill was originally hired to replace Hira, who has served as interim business dean since 2001 when Benjamin Allen took a job as interim vice president for external affairs. Hill decided in late May that he wouldn’t take the position due to family considerations.

Allen has served as provost-designate during the search for a new business dean.

While making the final decisions, Allen spoke with members of the search committee, members of the leadership team of the College of Business, many members of the faculty and many members of the dean’s advisory council.

“Labh’s name kept coming to the top,” Allen said.

After three years, anything could happen. Allen said Hira would then be eligible to apply.

Hira joined the Iowa State faculty in 1982. He was appointed associate dean of the college in 1996 and senior associate dean in 2000. He served as professor and chair of accounting and finance from 1992 to 1996.

Hira has been published in a variety of journals, and served on committees of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Internal Revenue Service. He received a B.S. and M.S. from Punjab Agricultural University, India; and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Gary Koppenhaver, interim associate dean, is confident of Hira’s ability to continue leading the college.

“There’s not a more loyal person in the college,” Koppenhaver said. “I think this is a very good thing, and Labh will work long and hard for us.”