Date: Apr 27, 2007

Business Prof. Harold Lazarus to be honored with endowed chair in his name

Gift from former student and trustee will be used for China studies

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – Harold “Hal” Lazarus, one of Hofstra University’s longest tenured professors and a former dean of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business, will be honored Monday with an endowed chair in his name, Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz announced.

A convocation celebrating the establishment of the Harold Lazarus Endowed Chair in China Studies will take place on Monday, April 30, 2007 at 3 p.m. in the Lowenfeld Exhibition Hall, 10th Floor, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, south campus.

The chair is a gift to Hofstra University from longtime trustee and alumnus Alan Bernon, ’76, president of Dean Dairy Group, a division of Dean Foods of Dallas. “I wanted to give a gift in recognition of someone who I believe made a difference in my life, and that was Hal Lazarus,” he said.

Harold Lazarus, Ph.D., is the Mel Weitz Distinguished Professor of Business in the Department of Management, Entrepreneurship and General Business at the Zarb School of Business. Dr. Lazarus first arrived at Hofstra in 1952 and taught business for 12 years. He returned to Hofstra in 1973 after 10 years as a professor of management at New York University Graduate School of Business Administration, where he won a trophy for teaching excellence. He served as dean of the Zarb School for seven years. 

Dr. Lazarus has taught at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration, the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, American College and The New School. Dr. Lazarus served as Phi Beta Kappa visiting scholar at the University of Washington, Lafayette College and Elmira College. He has had seven books and more than 65 articles published. He chairs the board of Phi Beta Kappa Alumni of Long Island.  An organization development consultant, Dr. Lazarus lectures in Europe, Asia, and North and South America on leadership, managing time, managing change, effective meetings, problem solving, decision making and communications. He was twice voted "Teacher of the Year" by Hofstra graduate business students.

Dr. Lazarus earned an M.S. and a Ph.D. in management and marketing, both at Columbia University. He received his B.A. in economics and philosophy from New York University. He has served as president of the North American Management Council, the Middle Atlantic Association of Colleges of Business Administration and the Eastern Academy of Management. He is also a fellow of the International Academy of Management.

Mr. Bernon graduated from Hofstra in January 1976 with a B.B.A. in finance and has been a Hofstra trustee for 15 years. He served as president of Garelick Farms in Franklin, Mass. from September 1985 until July 1997, when Garelick was acquired Dean Foods. Mr. Bernon has served on the board of directors and became president of Dean Dairy Group in January 2006.

The Frank G. Zarb School of Business faculty at Hofstra University believes that the best business education provides students with a sound knowledge of their field together with insight into other spheres of life. To achieve this end, the Zarb School of Business offers a broad, well-rounded program of study guided by an experienced faculty committed to excellence. Today, numerous Zarb School of Business graduates are leaders of some of the largest corporations in the United States.

The Frank G. Zarb School of Business offers day and evening undergraduate and graduate study leading to the Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration and Master of Science degrees, as well as minors in business subjects and certificate programs.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students find their edge to succeed in more than 140 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach small classes averaging 23 students that emphasize interaction, critical thinking and analysis. Hofstra offers a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence, cutting edge technology, extensive library resources, internships and special educational programs that appeal to their interests and abilities.  The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.