Richard W. “Dick” Barsness, a former dean and professor of management at Lehigh University College of Business died this past May, at the age of 90.
Barsness served as dean from 1978 to 1992. He was a visionary leader who helped shape what our college is today. During his tenure, Lehigh built and opened the Rauch Center for Business and launched a number of focused centers of study within the business school, including the Iacocca Institute for International Competitiveness.
After 14 years as Dean, Barsness returned to full-time faculty service in 1992, in the department of management, where his teaching and research interests included the social, political and ethical environments of business and international business. He was an authority in the transportation industry.
Beyond his administrative impact, Barsness was a dedicated teacher and mentor who left a lasting impression on generations of students. His legacy lives on in the lives of the many he taught and inspired.