Janet Harrah, who has served as director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University since fall 1999, will leave her post effective July 25.

She will become director of the Center for Economic Analysis and Development at Northern Kentucky University, located near Cincinnati, Ohio.

Harrah will rejoin John Beehler, former dean of the W. Frank Barton School of Business who left WSU in summer 2007 to become associate provost for economic initiatives and dean of the College of Business at NKU.

"I enjoyed working with Dr. Beehler during his tenure as dean of the Barton School of Business, and I am looking forward to working with him again at NKU," said Harrah.

“Janet has been an important part of the Barton school and a critical contributor to the Wichita business community," said Gary L. Miller, provost and vice president for academic affairs and research at WSU. "She will be missed. We wish her the very best.”

Miller said that the new dean of WSU's business school will determine how to proceed with finding a replacement for Harrah.

Under Harrah's leadership of Wichita State's CEDBR, the research capacity of the center increased, including developing a regional forecast model, a regional fiscal model and a statewide population forecasting model.

In addition, the center expanded its working relationships with the area business community, evidenced by the growth in the center's annual economic outlook conference with an annual attendance of more than 400, and the successful Wichita Area Outlook Team comprised of 45 area business leaders.

The CEDBR expanded its research focus and conducted numerous studies in the area of labor force development, education and training capacity.

Harrah explained why she feels this is a good time to make a change.

"It's rare to have the opportunity to develop a new business research center from the ground up," said Harrah. "It's a very exciting opportunity and a challenge I am looking forward to taking on."