He begins his position on Aug. 13. Modarres received a master of arts degree in regional economics from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 1982; a master of science in resource economics from the University of Nebraska in 1983; a master of business administration degree from National University, San Diego, Calif., in 1986; and a Ph.D. in business administration from Washington State University, Pullman, in 1996. Modarres previously taught at California State University, Fullerton, and the University of La Verne, La Verne Calif.