Beth Walker, current chair of the Arizona State University marketing department, will become the first-ever female dean of the Colorado State University College of Business beginning July 1.

After previous Dean of the College of Business Ajay Menon announced his plans to resign in early 2014, the University began its search for a new candidate. In early February the College of Business held open forums to interview the final four candidates, including Beth Walker.

“I am deeply honored to have been chosen to become dean of the College of Business,” Walker said in a release. “CSU has built an exceptional business school that may be the best-kept secret in the American West. The staff is first-rate and the students are truly inspiring.”

Walker received her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech and both her masters and Ph.D. from Penn State, before joining ASU faculty in 1988. She has chaired its marketing department since 2011.

“(Walker) comes to us with very impressive credentials, and faculty, staff and students are looking forward to working with her in moving the college ahead,” said Rick Miranda, CSU provost and executive vice president, in the release.

The College of Business is the largest undergraduate major program on campus, with more than 3,800 students enrolled in six different concentrations, according to its website.

Collegian Reporter Ellie Mulder can be reached at news@collegian.com or on twitter @lemarie.