Alliant Community Remembers Dr. Ilya Adler

On Monday, September 17th, friends, family, and colleagues gathered to remember Dr. Ilya Adler, who devoted

Dr. Ilya Adler

years to both United States International University and later, Alliant International University. Alliant’s Marshall Goldsmith School of Management hosted the event in Green Hall from 3:30 – 5:30pm.

Born in Colombia, Dr. Adler was a Venezuelan citizen, but could best have been described as a citizen of the world. He lived in five different countries and more than 25 cities in the US and Latin America. As a teacher and mentor, Dr. Adler was beloved by students on the University’s San Diego and Mexico City campuses. He served the University as both administrator and professor. He oversaw dozens of doctoral theses, most having subjects connected with international and multicultural topics, and he served as the Director of the Division of International Studies in the Marshall Goldsmith School of Management (MGSM).

Dr. Adler was also an active professional outside the University; over more than two decades, he trained hundreds of employees at Boeing Airlines in diversity.

Marshall Goldsmith School of Management Professor Louise Kelly organized the memorial with the kind assistance of International Studies Program Coordinator and Faculty Member David Felsen.

Personal tributes were given by Alliant President Geoffrey Cox; MGSM Founding Dean Dr. James Goodrich, Dr. Mohamed Yakan of MGSM’s International Studies division, CUE Dean Linda Swanson, Dr. Louise Kelly and  I-MERIT Assistant Director Jacyn Lewis. A special video tribute of photos was assembled by Aung Zayar Lwin and a recorded address was sent by Professor Bernardo Ferdman.

Dr. Adler’s daughter, Lisa Adler, who has participated in I-MERIT events with her father, also spoke about Dr. Adler and his contributions to her life and those of others.

Several of Dr. Adler’s favorite songs were played during the memorial, attesting to his own multicultural background; they included a Spanish Song, “Frio Frio” and a Hebrew song, “Rak Biglal Ha-ruach” (Only Because of the Wind).

A consultant and researcher on cross-cultural relations between mainstream Americans and Latinos, Ilya was a scholar who wrote extensively. He earned his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Mass Communication.