BLOOMINGTON — Dean Emeritus Charles “Chuck” Bonser, the founding dean of the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, has died, the university announced. He was 91.
A Youngstown, Ohio native, Bonser was born on Feb. 15, 1933 to Anita and William Harley Bonser, according to his obituary. He graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1954 and earned his master’s degree in business administration at IU in 1961.
He was a pilot in United States Air Force for five years and reached the rank of Captain.
Bonser was appointed associate dean of the IU School of Business in 1969 and promoted to full professor in 1971.
In the fall of 1971, Bonser was appointed as special assistant to the president of Indiana University, where he was tasked with preparing a plan for the proposed School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IU.
He was appointed as the founding dean in 1972 and would remain in that position for 17 years.
onser retired from full-time academic service in 1998, but in 2002, returned to serve as director of the IU Graduate Program in Arts Administration, which became part of the O’Neill School.
“We are forever indebted to Chuck Bonser and his vision for the O’Neill School,” said Siân Mooney, dean of the O’Neill School. “His tireless efforts helped bring the school from just an idea into reality, and his vision created a forward looking, truly imaginative interdisciplinary and world-renowned force that strives to make the world better. We are honored to continue this mission, educating future leaders who are prepared to address complex issues and will carry the torch he lit more than 50 years ago.”
