Educator, entrepreneur, researcher, advisor and musician Dr. Roland J. Kushner is Professor of Business at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. He earned his B.A. in History from Carleton University (Canada), and M.B.A. and Ph.D. from Lehigh University’s College of Business. Since joining the Muhlenberg faculty in 2006, he earned tenure and promotion to Professor, was Program Director of Muhlenberg’s Business program, and designed the curriculum for Muhlenberg’s Master’s in Organizational Leadership. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in strategy, international management, leadership, nonprofit management, and arts administration.
Roland’s decades of community engagement and nonprofit leadership include successful stages as the founding Director of Bethlehem Musikfest, first Development Director for Bach Choir of Bethlehem; founding President of Rose Garden Children’s Festival; Interim Executive Director of NPR affiliate WDIY-FM, and Board President of New Bethany Ministries.
His research, published in numerous journal articles, book chapters, and public reports, examines nonprofit strategic management and organizational performance, and the economics of arts and culture. From 2005 to 2016, he was co-author of Americans for the Arts’ National Arts Index reports and from 2006-2016, author of Chorus America’s Choral Operations Survey Report.
Since 1983, he has helped over 100 clients with consulting and research services, including American Red Cross International Services, RAND, Urban Institute, and C.F. Martin & Co. In 2024, he serves on the Board of Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation.