Jay Prag Named The Charlotte S. and Davre J. Davidson Chair in Business Management
Claremont Graduate University (CGU) has named Professor Jay Prag the Charlotte S. and Davre J. Davidson Chair in Business Management. This appointment recognizes Prag’s 40 years of service to the Peter F. Drucker & Masatoshi Ito School of Management and his sustained impact as a teacher, scholar, and mentor.
“Jay Prag represents the very best of the Drucker School,” said David Sprott, Henry Y. Hwang Dean of the Drucker School of Management. “For generations of students, he has been an extraordinary teacher and mentor—someone who challenges students to think deeply, supports them generously, and champions their success long after they complete their coursework. His scholarship, including a body of widely read books, reflects the Drucker tradition of rigorous ideas made practical.”
A Chair with a Distinguished Legacy
The Charlotte S. and Davre J. Davidson Chair in Business Management was established by the Board of Trustees of Claremont Graduate University in recognition of the leadership and philanthropy of Davre J. Davidson, founder of Aramark and a longtime supporter of education in Southern California. Davidson served as a trustee of the university, and the chair reflects his enduring commitment to leadership and institutional excellence.
Previous holders of the Davidson Chair include Paul Albrecht, the inaugural chair holder whose decades of leadership and scholarship helped shape the early identity of the school, and most recently Vijay Sathe. Professor Prag’s appointment continues this legacy of distinguished scholarship, teaching, and service.
A Career Defined by Teaching, Mentorship, and Impact at CGU
Professor Prag has taught at the Drucker School for four decades and is consistently cited by students and alumni for his clarity, rigor, and devotion to mentorship. In addition to his work at CGU, Prag has taught at several of the Claremont Colleges, bringing his commitment to rigorous, student-centered teaching to classrooms across the 7Cs. He pairs an energetic classroom style with a readiness to advise students one‑on‑one—through office hours, mentoring and professional guidance—that former students say shaped their careers.
Over the course of his career, Prag has been repeatedly recognized by students across Drucker School programs for his teaching excellence, earning Faculty of the Year honors multiple times.
In scholarship, Prag’s books and articles bridge academic research and practitioner needs, making complex ideas accessible to leaders in business, nonprofit and public sectors. His work reflects the Drucker emphasis on scholarship that informs practice.
Stewardship of Drucker Values
Prag’s appointment recognizes both achievement and responsibility: as Davidson Chair he will continue to teach, mentor, and help shape the intellectual life of the school. “This chair represents both honor and responsibility,” Prag said. “I am deeply grateful to the Drucker School community for this recognition and proud to continue contributing to an institution that has meant so much to me and to so many students over the years.”
Professor Prag’s appointment to the Davidson Chair takes effect immediately.
At the Drucker School of Management, faculty like Jay Prag play a central role in shaping the future of management—advancing a human-centered approach through teaching, scholarship, and real-world impact.