Quiester Craig Leadership Award
The Dean Quiester Craig Leadership Award recognizes an HBCU business dean who exemplifies the leadership Dr. Craig embodied throughout his illustrious career. Dr. Craig led the School of Business and Economics at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University for an unprecedented 40 years.
2026 Quiester Craig Leadership Award Recipient
Dr. Igwe Udeh
Dr. Igwe Udeh's Bio
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Dr. Igwe Udeh is the Alvin James Lawson Endowed Professor of Business and Dean of the College of Business at Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO). He earned his Ph.D. from Saint Louis University and is a scholar and transformational academic leader with expertise in strategic management, organizational behavior, human resource management, and international business. His teaching and research have strengthened business administration and prepared future leaders.
For more than twenty-one years as dean, Dr. Udeh has demonstrated unwavering commitment to academic excellence, institutional advancement, and student success. After Hurricane Katrina devastated SUNO’s campus and the College of Business lost its facilities, he honored his commitment to rebuild rather than depart. Leading faculty, staff, and students through operations in temporary locations and navigating program reauthorization, he guided a resilient institutional recovery. Through strategic planning and advocacy, Dr. Udeh secured over $11 million to restore facilities, rebuild programs, and stabilize enrollment.
A hallmark of his tenure was achieving AACSB International accreditation—one of the highest distinctions in business education. Initiating the accreditation process in 2007, he led the college to accreditation within roughly five years despite severe post-Katrina constraints, reflecting his emphasis on continuous improvement, faculty development, academic rigor, and global standards.
Known for a mentorship-centered leadership style, Dr. Udeh emphasizes personalized learning, faculty engagement, career readiness, internships, leadership development, and global opportunities. His mentorship extends nationally through service on AACSB peer review teams and accreditation committees. He also served as Secretary, President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President of the HBCU Business Deans Roundtable (2011–2015). His career exemplifies resilience, integrity, service, and transformational leadership within higher education and the HBCU community.
2026 Quiester Craig Leadership Award Recipient
Dr. Kevin Richardson
Dr. Kevin Richardson's Bio
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Dr. Kevin James served as dean of the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics at North Carolina A&T State University from August 2017 to July 2022. He also served as chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance at N.C. A&T. A certified public accountant who earned his PhD from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Dr. James worked as a senior auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers and director of the Master of Accountancy program at Middle Tennessee State University prior to joining N.C. A&T.
Accomplishments during his tenure as dean include significantly expanding study abroad opportunities, developing an extensive mentoring program to support student success and forming several corporate partnerships to provide academic support, leadership training and other opportunities. Dr. James now serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina.
