Harvey Salkin, who served on the faculty of the Weatherhead School of Management for 43 years, passed away earlier this month after suffering complications and a stroke after surgery. He was 67.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Salkin earned a bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, a master’s degree from Cornell University and a doctorate in operations research from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
Salkin joined the university faculty in 1969 as an assistant professor at age 24 and was promoted to full professor at age 35. Throughout his career, he taught more than 10,000 students in classes such as “Operations Research and Supply Chain Management,” “Decision Theory” and “A Study of Power: Criteria Essential to Its Rise and Fall.” He also helped organize the SAGES program, beginning in 2006.
Salkin’s research—including several textbooks and scholarly articles—focused on areas such as investment management, optimization, economics, history and geopolitics, and logistics.
Outside the classroom, Salkin was an investment adviser and was involved in mutual fund development, asset management and financial planning. In addition, he served as a consultant to the U.S. Navy in undersea warfare and communication from 1972 to 1984.
“Harvey was a unique individual who followed his own instincts in his research and teaching. While trained in operations research with a PhD from RPI, he loved to apply his analytic skills more broadly especially in investments where he was an adviser and funds manager as well as a teacher,” said J.B. Silvers, interim dean of Weatherhead School. “His outspoken opinions, passion for teaching and wide-ranging interests will be missed. We offer our sympathy to his family on this sad occasion.”
Salkin is survived by his wife, Laura; sons Jonathan and Randy; two grandchildren; brother, Arnold; and sister, Cynthia.
Contributions to Salkin’s memory can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.