Powell Niland, D.C.S., professor emeritus of management at Olin Business School, died April 19, 2009, in St. Louis. He was 89.
A native of Scranton, Penn., Niland came to Washington University in 1957 from Harvard Business School, where he earned a doctorate and taught for six years.
Robert L. Virgil, Ph.D., Olin emeritus dean and professor, was among Niland’s first students at WUSTL. He remembers Niland fondly as a teacher, mentor and friend.
“Powell’s contribution to the Olin School was enormous,” Virgil said. “He was very influential in the shaping of the MBA program.
“Powell’s strengths were teaching and research in the areas of manufacturing, production and operations management,” Virgil said. “This always has been a strong, even distinctive, part of the Olin program. It is today. This special strength started with Powell and traces to him. He started it and nurtured it.”
Niland retired in 1989.
He is survived by his wife, Juel C. Niland; two daughters; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Powell Niland Prize in Operations and Production Management at the Olin Business School or to a charity of the donor’s choice.