St. Cloud State University has announced a new dean for the School of Public Affairs.

President Earl Potter says King Banaian, who was the interim of the school this past year, will now serve as the new dean. He brings 31 years of experience to the leadership position. Banaian is a professor of economics who served as the chair of the economics department for nine years and introduced a five-year track program.

Potter adds Banian supervised the launch of a new master’s of public administration program and a partnership on an accelerated law program with William Mitchell College of Law.

Banaian has a doctorate and master’s degree in economics from the Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California, and a bachelor’s degree from at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire.

He also conducts research and contributes to the St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report.