Robert D. Hisrich, Ph.D., Bridgestone Chair of International Marketing and Director of the Global Management Center at Kent State University, passed away February 1, 2023.
Hisrich, who joined the Kent State Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship in 2015, was a world-renowned expert and author on entrepreneurship. He authored or co-authored more than 35 books and wrote more than 300 articles on entrepreneurship, international business management and marketing. In December 2021, Hisrich was named one of the top 2% of researchers worldwide in a study published by Stanford University scholars.
In being named to this list, Hisrich stated, “This is a great honor for me as I truly enjoy my career in entrepreneurship and new venture creation; doing research and teaching in the area; being an entrepreneur; and helping others understand the topic and be successful in starting a new venture if they so desire.”
Hisrich previously held faculty roles at institutions including Case Western Reserve University, University of Tulsa, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Boston College. He also held marketing positions at Procter and Gamble and Ford Motor Companies. He served as a visiting and honorary professor at more than eight universities in six different countries. He served as a Fulbright Professor in Hungary on two occasions and received a Doctor Honoris Causa from both Chuvash State University (Russia) and University of Miskolc (Hungary).
Hisrich was a donor to Crawford Hall. In honor of his gift, the Robert D. Hisrich Faculty and Staff Lounge will be named for him in the new building.
“All of the students, faculty and staff at Kent State who had an opportunity to work with Dr. Hisrich benefitted from his vast knowledge of entrepreneurship and his passion for helping others pursue entrepreneurial ventures,” said Deborah F. Spake, Dean of the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship. “He will be deeply missed but his legacy will live on through the countless students he impacted.”
A memorial scholarship in has been established at Kent State University. Contributions in memory of the Dr. Robert D. Hisrich Memorial Scholarship may be sent to the KSU Foundation, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH, 44242, or online at givetokent.org. Please indicate Foundation Fund # 10062F online or on a check when making a gift.
