Condolence Notice – Ali Dastmalchian
August 14, 2020, Victoria, BC – the Gustavson School of Business is deeply saddened to acknowledge the passing of Dr. Ali Dastmalchian on August 13, 2020. We mourn his loss and celebrate his leadership—at the university, within Gustavson and in the community.
Ali came to UVic as director of MBA programs in 1991. He left to become dean of the Faculty of Management at the University of Lethbridge from 1996 to 2001 and then returned to UVic as dean of Business from 2002 to 2012. Following this, he joined SFU as dean of the Beedie School of Business in 2016. Throughout his tenure, Ali remained an active researcher, leading the GLOBE project and inspiring countless others. He taught in MBA and executive programs throughout the world, with a passion that ignited students, alumni and business leaders alike.
Among his innumerable contributions, Ali fostered the collaborative, positive and innovative culture that still thrives at Gustavson today. He facilitated the naming of the Gustavson School and the Gill Graduate School and launched our PhD and Master of Global Business degrees. He instituted our “sustainable and socially responsible” pillar, earned our double accreditation with AACSB and EQUIS and doubled the size of the student body. He also created the school’s board of advisers, to establish a critical link between our business education and the needs of the business community.
We are inexpressibly grateful for the dedication, vision and ambitious goals Ali brought to Gustavson. The impact of his kindness and generosity continues to be seen throughout the school in ways large and small, across our programs and people. We mourn his loss and offer our deepest condolences to Ann, Niki and Kia and all those who are richer for having known him.
The Gustavson School of Business is planning a recognition of Ali’s many contributions to the school, to take place at a future date.