“Lighting the fire in the hearts and minds of thousands.”
Paul Magelli , Ph.D., was a visionary educator, a relentless entrepreneur, and a deeply devoted mentor who believed that the true measure of economics and business education lay in its service to the human condition. Over a career spanning more than half a century, he reshaped institutions of higher learning, pioneered hands-on student consulting, and left an indelible mark on everyone from undergraduate freshmen to global leaders.
Early Roots & Foundation
Born at the height of the Great Depression on June 28, 1931, in Mount Clare, Illinois, Paul was the eleventh of twelve children born to Biagio Magelli—a Tuscan-born miner—and Mary (Mareta) Magelli. Growing up alongside his identical twin brother, Peter, Paul’s entrepreneurial spirit ignited remarkably early:
- Age 8: Co-owned a herd of 25 goats, managing a local goat milk business.
- Age 12: Co-owned the Magelli Brothers supermarkets, working alongside his siblings until he left for college in 1956.
In 1955, his love for the arts led him to meet a young ballerina, Karolyn Boznick. They married, building a life together defined by mutual support, shared cultural passions, and their two highly successful children, Paul Jr. and Merrill Ann.
The Academic Trajectory
Paul entered the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as a freshman in 1956, ultimately earning his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. in Economics there. His doctoral thesis was groundbreaking, mathematically connecting a society’s wealth-generating capacity directly to its investment in accessible higher education. He spent the next few decades bringing this philosophy to life across the American educational landscape:
| Institution / Organization | Role | Legacy & Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita State University | Dean, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts & Sciences | Expanded academic offerings and served as President of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (1982–1983). |
| Drake University | Vice President for Academic Affairs | Spearheaded rigorous academic administration and strategic development. |
| MSU Denver | President | Led the institution during a critical phase of growth, instilling a deep sense of campus and community pride (1985–1988). |
| Parkland College | President | Returned home to Illinois to lead the community college, championing entrepreneurial thinking at the grassroots level (1987–1989). |
The Return to Illinois & Experiential Learning
In 1989, Dr. Magelli returned to his alma mater, UIUC, joining the College of Business (now famously known as the Gies College of Business). While often fondly associated with the names of prominent university centers, Dr. Magelli was specifically instrumental in establishing the Origin Ventures Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership (2004).
He also revolutionized the business curriculum by founding Illinois Business Consulting (IBC) in 1995, creating the largest student-run undergraduate and MBA consultancy in the country, allowing students to learn by solving real problems for actual corporations. In recognition of his massive legacy, Gies Business permanently named its wing the Magelli Office of Experiential Learning.
Rubbing Elbows & Global Influence
Paul had a natural charisma that allowed him to move seamlessly between corporate boardrooms, grassroots community spaces, and global high-society. Alongside his memorable encounters with Queen Elizabeth II and poet laureate Maya Angelou, his network of influence included:
- Ewing Marion Kauffman: Paul served prominently on the board of the prestigious Kauffman Foundation, collaborating directly with leaders in American entrepreneurship.
- International Dignitaries: Because of his work developing innovative academic programs internationally, he routinely collaborated with educational ministers and institutional leaders across Thailand, Pakistan, and Peru.
The Global Classroom & The China Connection
Dr. Magelli’s belief in an interconnected global economy wasn’t just theoretical—he actively built bridges to the East. Recognizing the meteoric rise of the Chinese market and the profound need for cross-cultural business leadership, he spent many of his later summers traveling to China at the formal invitation of Chinese academic and economic institutions.
There, he lectured extensively to packed auditoriums of Chinese students and business professionals, sharing his signature, fire-igniting philosophies on economics, American corporate strategy, and the mechanics of a successful entrepreneurship culture. True to his hands-on form, he didn’t stop at just lecturing:
- Founding Sinoway International Education (SIE): Driven by his summer experiences in China, Dr. Magelli became instrumental in founding this innovative program.
- Bridging the Gap: SIE brought accredited, high-level U.S. college business courses straight to China over the summer months. This provided thousands of domestic and visiting international students a seamless way to advance their business degrees while immersing themselves firsthand in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
Personal Highlights & Adventurous Spirit
Paul refused to let age or physical constraints define him. Diagnosed with a heart condition in his forties, he spent the rest of his life defiantly outrunning it—literally, with a legendary daily 5-mile run even in the dead of Illinois winters.
- The Peaks: An avid explorer, he successfully hiked Machu Picchu and trained intensely well into his late 70s to conquer Mt. Kilimanjaro, inspiring medical research on heart health and aging at high altitudes.
- The Olympic Torch: In 2002, after a flood of nominations from students and colleagues who said he “lit the fire” in their own lives, Paul was chosen by the U.S. Olympic Committee to carry the Olympic Torch on its journey to the Salt Lake City Winter Games.
- Honorary Doctorate: In 2003, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law from the University of Bristol (UK) for his global work in building an “enterprise culture” in higher education.
Dr. Paul Magelli passed away peacefully on December 4, 2016, at the age of 85. He left behind a legacy built on the simple, powerful belief that a teacher’s job is to give away their knowledge and network freely to ensure the next generation flies higher than the last.
