Goizueta Business School is honored to recognize the retirement of Charles H. Kellstadt Chaired Professor of Business Jagdish Sheth. Professor Sheth will retire from Goizueta August 31 and leave behind a decades-long legacy of global thought leadership, mentoring, scholarly inquiry, humanitarianism, kindness, and excellence.
A Legacy of Scholarship and Leadership
For 35 years at Goizueta Business School, Professor Jagdish Sheth has inspired generations of future leaders and change agents, collaborated with academic peers locally and internationally, and fostered intellectual growth into new realms of understanding.
“He represents wisdom, empathy, humor and ethics that made him the pride of Goizueta,” says Benn Konsynski, George S. Craft Distinguished University Professor on Information Systems & Operations Management. “As a scholar and colleague, he truly deserves the label G.O.A.T–Greatest of All Time.”
In 1991, the pull to choose the rising global hub of Atlanta as his academic home was strong. Professor Sheth joined the faculty of Goizueta Business School having held academic positions at University of Southern California, University of Illinois, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Copenhagen School of Economics and Business, University of Pittsburgh, and Indian Institute of Management. As he has shared, “Emory University provided opportunities to grow the marketing area with new and innovative programs and recruit young faculty.”
An intuitive and innovative thinker, in 1993 Professor Sheth founded the Center for Relationship Marketing at Emory and served as its director until 2004. He added, “We focused on relationship marketing and became among the top ten marketing departments in the country.”
I became aware of Professor Jag Sheth almost fifteen years before I met him as I joined the faculty at Goizueta. His influence was celebrated at AT&T and throughout the budding mobile communications marketplace. His pioneering work in consumer behavior and market development were legendary. Since meeting him on my arrival, Professor Jag Sheth has been my mentor, model, and intellectual leader.
Benn Konsynski, George Craft Distinguished University Professor on Information Systems and Operations Management
Leadership is intrinsic for Professor Sheth. His 54 academic and professional honors include among others recent Lifetime Achievement Awards from the American Marketing Association– Sustainable Marketing and Innovation, Sankara Nethralaya USA, Emory’s Emeritus College, and the USA India Business Summit/Georgia Tech Global Business Forum. Notable Emory University accolades include the Thomas Jefferson Award, Marion Creekmore Award for Internationalization, and Distinguished Faculty Lecture Award.
To ensure future growth and strategic direction at Emory, during Professor Sheth’s academic career he has served on dozens of university level and college level committees. In addition, he has guided the path forward for PhD students at Emory and other universities, serving on or leading nearly 70 doctoral dissertation committees.
A dedicated family man who enjoys traveling, Professor Sheth was named “Father of the Year” by the American Diabetes Foundation. He is honored to call his daughter a Goizueta colleague. Reshma Shah, professor in the practice of marketing, praised her father’s bravery, resilience, and tenacity in a dual interview by Emory Business. “I’m going to sit in every single class to soak up his vast knowledge,” she shared. “I’m not done learning. My father teaches me new things all the time.”
Once calling himself “an accidental scholar,” Professor Sheth appreciates his work with Emory University. “Looking back over 35 years at Goizueta, what has meant most to me is the world class reputation and growth of the business school,” Professor Sheth says. “It also meant a lot to meet colleagues across the campus from different disciplines; getting to know and work with them on various projects and committees.”
A Global Research Impact
A sought-after speaker, presenter, and curriculum developer, Professor Sheth’s consulting expertise and research influence are globally recognized. In 2025 he was named to the Stanford University and Elsevier database of the World’s Top 2% Scientists.
As one of the foremost marketing research scholars in the world, Professor Sheth has authored or edited 80 books, as well as nearly 300 papers, book chapters, and articles.
Professor Sheth credits his environment for playing a large role in his success. “I am very grateful for what the university has invested in me that helped to unlock my potential as an academic scholar.”
Jag is one of the most well-known and well-respected marketing academics in the world. His work has been cited over 75,000 times and has significantly impacted modern thinking in marketing and related fields. But Jag is more than just a great scholar. He gives incredibly generously of his time and resources, including endowing a new marketing chair to help us hire his replacement. We will no doubt recruit a great faculty member for this position…but the reality is no one can replace Jag.
John H. Harland Dean of Goizueta Business School Gareth James
The Sheths’ Philanthropic Legacy
As a family, the Sheths founded the Madhuri and Jagdish Sheth Foundation, the Sheth Family Foundation, and the Sheth Education Foundation to empower people around the world.
With overall goals to foster education, wellness, and sustainability in the United States and India, individually and together the Sheths contribute to more than 60 non-profits and universities in metro Atlanta and the Indian community.
To grow local and global Indian culture, they provide philanthropic support for Indian cultural events and Indian non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In higher education, the Sheths have established endowed chairs and post-doctoral study in Jainism.
“If you take a human being, mentor, educate, and give them opportunity, the value add is infinite,” Professor Sheth once said in a lecture. With emphasis on creating next generation scholars in marketing disciplines, the Sheth Fellowship provides financial support for Goizueta doctoral students.
Established in 2002 at Emory, The Sheth Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes an individual who has helped the world through outstanding contributions to humanity, science, art or human welfare that demonstrate the value of global and international engagement.
Professor Sheth’s Parting Advice
As he prepares to conclude his 35-year career at Goizueta, Professor Sheth leaves his colleagues with the same spirit that has guided his own career: gratitude, service, and a commitment to helping others reach their full potential.
“My advice to Goizueta faculty is to appreciate all the university does to advance your career, your personal growth and your sense of belonging to a top research-oriented university allowing you to touch the lives of so many students and young scholars,” he says.
“In fact, the mission of the academic journey is to unlock the potential of others, students, faculty and staff. How do you help make ordinary people extraordinary?” he asks. “The impact you have on the students in your classroom as well as the research you publish will be more satisfying than anything else you will do.”
Professor Jagdish Sheth’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations of business leaders. Learn how you can honor his impact and help shape the future of Goizueta.
For generations, Goizueta faculty have advanced business through groundbreaking research, inspired teaching, and meaningful mentorship. Explore more of the faculty whose ideas continue to shape business and society.
