Then-IU President Myles Brand turns to recognize Kelley Dean Dan R. Dalton, center, at the dedication of the William J. Godfrey Graduate and Executive Education Center in November 2002. (Photo courtesy of IU Archives)
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Dan R. Dalton, a management professor who led the Indiana University Kelley School of Business as dean during a period of extraordinary transformation, from from 1997 to 2004, died on July 24.
Below is a message from Pat Hopkins, dean and the James R. Hodge Chair of Excellence, to Kelley faculty and staff:
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of former Kelley Dean Dan Dalton, who died yesterday. Dan was more than a visionary leader and distinguished scholar. He was a mentor, a colleague, and a friend to many of us. His warmth, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to the Kelley community have left a lasting mark.
“Dan served as dean from 1997 to 2004, a period of extraordinary transformation. Under his leadership, the school raised over $170 million, surpassing the cumulative total of all previous fundraising efforts. This unprecedented success enabled the expansion of faculty support, the creation of new academic programs, and the development of world-class facilities that continue to serve our students and faculty to this day.
“Among Dan’s most enduring contributions was his role in securing the $23 million naming gift from E.W. Kelley that gave our school its name and elevated our national and international profile. Dan’s stewardship of this meaningful relationship reflected his deep understanding of the power of philanthropy to shape the future of education. Dan also led the campaign to build the William J. Godfrey Graduate and Executive Education Center, which, as you know, has redefined graduate business education at Kelley.
Left to right, then-IU President Myles Brand, -then-IU Foundation President Curt Simic, Dean Dan R. Dalton, and E.W. “Ed” Kelley in 1997. In response to his transformative gift, the school was named for Kelley. (Photo: Randy Johnson).
“Dan was also a pioneer in online education. He launched Kelley Direct, an initiative that was bold for top ranked business schools at the time and that has since become a model for excellence. He also championed the MS in Information Systems and expanded global engagement through partnerships in South Korea, Croatia, and beyond.
“Dan was instrumental in establishing centers of excellence such as the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Center for Education and Research in Retail. He also helped launch Indiana’s first statewide business television program, “Inside INdiana Business,” further extending Kelley’s reach and influence.
Dan Dalton
“Dan’s academic contributions were equally remarkable. A prolific scholar, he published over 200 articles in the areas of corporate strategy, law, ethics, management, and psychology—65 of them during his tenure as dean—and was honored twice by the Academy of Management, including with its Distinguished Career Award. He founded what we now know as the Institute for Corporate Governance and Ethics and continued to publish and mentor long after stepping down as dean.
“Perhaps most importantly, Dan was a person of deep humility, warmth, and integrity. He taught every MBA student in the early 1990s in the required “Negotiation and Ethics” course, and he never lost sight of the human side behind education and leadership. He credited the school’s success to the collective efforts of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends. In announcing his decision to step down as dean, he wrote: ‘It is customary to extol the achievements of the period, a tradition with which I am not altogether comfortable. Deans, at their very best, facilitate and leverage the opportunities and accomplishments of others.’
“Dan embodied that philosophy. He was a steward of Kelley’s values, a force for good, and a leader who helped shape not only our school’s future but also the lives of those fortunate enough to work alongside him. I know that his memory will continue to guide and inspire us for years to come.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Dan’s family, friends, and the many colleagues and students whose lives he influenced. His loss is deeply felt across the Kelley community, where his leadership, kindness, and example left an enduring impact. We hold his loved ones in our thoughts and hearts during this difficult time.”