A native of Jackson, Michigan and son of a potato chip salesman, William Keep entered James Madison College at Michigan State University (MSU) as a married veteran after serving four years of active duty in the United States Coast Guard. The only member of his family to attend college, over the next five years he completed a dual major in social science and economics, a five-month internship with the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., a six-month internship with the State of Michigan’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations, a one-year congressional staff position, and became a father.

Upon graduation, William worked as assistant to the vice president of operations of a multi-branch electrical distribution firm and in the marketing department of an international trade association. In 1986, then a father of two and with the support of his wife Susan, he entered the Eli Broad College of Business at MSU to pursue a PhD in Marketing.

A professor of marketing, Dr. Keep has also held the position of associate vice president for academic affairs, and currently serves as dean. Under his leadership the School of Business at The College of New Jersey consistently ranks as a top 100 undergraduate business school, according to Businessweek.

His research and writings—published in the Journal of Marketing, the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, the Journal of Business Ethics, and The Chronicle of Higher Education, among others—focus on long-term business relationships, business ethics, public policy, and higher education. As a consultant he worked with a variety of firms and served as an expert witness in the prosecution of pyramid schemes, including Security Exchange Commission (SEC) v. International Heritage Inc., at the time the largest pyramid scheme ever prosecuted by the SEC.

The Keeps have two sons; Andrew currently holds a research position at the University of Utah, after completing a PhD in computer science at Indiana University, and Benjamin, a graduate of Cornell Law School, recently completed a clerkship at the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Susan works as an medical editorial associate. William and Susan Keep reside in Yardley, Pennsylvania.