Professor Dharma deSilva passes; he led World Trade Council and taught international business for more than four decades
The deSilva family is planning a celebration of his life for Saturday, April 15. Details are pending.
Dr. deSilva, who joined Wichita State University in 1975, held appointments as director of Center for International Business Advancement; Rudd Foundation Distinguished Fellow; Professor of International Business; and chair of the World Trade Council of Wichita, which he co-founded in 1976.
He was deeply dedicated to the trade council's mission of fostering the work and ideals of international business via export educational seminars and programs featuring ambassadors and consul generals from U.S. trading partner countries.
These monthly events brought students and faculty together with members of the business community and speakers with global perspective.
Dr. deSilva's wife, Deema, retired Student Support Services Director, said in a note to President John Bardo: "His passion (was) to teach and make a deep and meaningful contribution to the Wichita community through an active link between students, the business community, the university and the World Trade Council. He left us doing what he loved: passionately teaching students international business and continuing the major that he was invited to establish."
President Bardo said: "Deborah and I have known Dharma and Deema since we were young faculty couples here 40 years ago. Dharma's enthusiasm for his students and his important work were undiminished. He applied great energy to teaching and learning until his final days.
"Dharma and Deema leave a great legacy at the university and through their beautiful family," Bardo said. "Deborah and I will miss him."
Provost and Senior Vice President Tony Vizzini said: "Dharma was that rare individual whose passion and energy always preceded him. He accomplished so much on behalf of WSU and the entire Wichita community through the World Trade Council. We have lost a dear colleague, and our deepest sympathies go out to his family."
Anand Desai, dean of the Barton School of Business said: "Dr. Dharma deSilva was a model professor -- he had a passion for teaching, he cared about advancing the international business area, he engaged the business community in the education process long before others did, and he did this with an energy level that was simply amazing."
"Indeed, Dean Desai said, "Dr. deSilva set the gold standard for international business education by integrating theory and practice. His passing is an immense loss for all of us in the Barton School of Business, Wichita State University and the regional business community."
Dr. deSilva said in a 2004 interview with the Wichita Business Journal: "I'm a firm believer that if nations trade more, peace is possible. And trade and peace will enrich everybody's life."
Pizza Hut founder Dan Carney was also a founding member of the trade council. Carney said: "His dedication and loyalty to both the university and the World Trade Council were unwavering. His contagious spirit and enthusiasm were a true reflection of his convictions. It was always impossible to refuse my friend Dharma."
Ted J. Vlamis, vice chair of the World Trade Council and vice president of Pioneer Balloon, said: "Dharma has done more than anyone else I know to develop and nurture partnership between WSU and the business community. All of us in the council and the business community will continue to treasure his mentorship, leadership and friendship."
Attorney Joe Flynn, who was active in the council, said: "Dharma said he would always retain a special attachment to WSU because it gave him a start and he couldn't bear to abandon that commitment. I don't think he ever woke up without a smile on his face and an insatiable inquisitiveness that infected his students and his donors."
Dr. deSilva was a native of Sri Lanka and returned there regularly to see family and business and government contacts and advance business education.
As founding Dean of the Business Management School at USJP in Sri Lanka, he was committed to its ongoing development and donated his time with frequent lectures.
In addition, he recently served as Senior Advisor to the Sri Lanka Government's Ministry of Higher Education, and collaborated closely with the AACSB Chief of Accreditation Asia-Pacific to bring the business school's standards on par with the best business schools in the world.
Dr. deSilva earned his Ph.D. in International Trade & Business at Indiana University. More information on his background is available at http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=mgmt&p=/staff/desilva/
His wife, Deema, children Mahi, Duminda and Lathi, and nine grandchildren survive him.
A note from the family:
His living wish was to contribute to the academic growth of students and inspire excellence. In that effort, if you feel you shared his passion, in lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Dr. Dharma deSilva Endowed International Business Scholarship, administered by the WSU Foundation.