An assistant professor of operations management at the University of San Diego’s School of Business has been appointed director of the university’s Center for Peace and Commerce.
Amit Kakkad will run the center with the help of another new appointee, Assistant Director Rachel Christensen.
The Center for Peace and Commerce is a joint partnership between the School of Business and the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies. Its mission is to support students in the San Diego-Tijuana region in coming up with social innovations with the potential to promote “people, planet, profit and peace.”
A news release issued Dec. 19 said Kakkad has worked for large corporations and startups in various industries. He has served as a board member at three European nonprofits and a San Diego elementary school.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering at the DD Institute of Technology and a master’s in business administration at the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College, as well as a doctorate and a master’s of research degree at the London Business School.
Christensen, who was appointed to her position in November, previously worked as a program specialist in the Dominican Republic at Edify, a nonprofit founded by School of Business board member Christopher Crane. Edify works to improve and expand affordable private education models worldwide.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies at Point Loma Nazarene University.
