Dr. Jerry L. Gray
Remembering Dr. Jerry L. Gray, Former Dean of the Asper School of Business
Former Dean of the Asper School of Business Dr. Jerry L. Gray leaves a rich legacy as a selfless champion of business education and a brilliant professor who will be remembered by his 15,000+ students.
Originally born in Evansville, Indiana, he received his PhD in management from University of South Carolina, where he first began teaching.
His longtime friend Fred Starke, now Professor Emeritus at the Asper School, had moved up to Winnipeg and encouraged Jerry to consider a position at the University of Manitoba, joking that the excellent fishing alone made it worth the move.
He took the bait, and he accepted a position at the Asper School of Business (then called the faculty of Commerce) in 1970.
In 1974, Dr. Gray was appointed Head of the Department of Business Administration; in 1982, Associate Dean of the School; and from 1996 to 2004, he served as Dean.
Teaching
As professor, Dr. Gray was well known for his teaching style, which featured textbooks (including the ones he had written) and notably, little-to-no overhead projection, writing on the board, or PowerPoints.
However, he made up for it by capturing students’ attention and imagination with vivid stories, examples, self-deprecating jokes, and personal case studies.
Another friend, Asper Professor Emeritus, John McCallum, offered the academic adage “students will never remember much of what you said or what you did, but they will absolutely remember how you made them feel,” saying that “Jerry made students feel like they mattered.”
“When Jerry Gray taught you, you didn’t forget him. But also, he didn’t forget you,” said McCallum, adding that Dr. Gray always made time for past students, writing references and using his business connections to open doors for their careers.
Dean of the Asper School of Business (1996-2004)
During his tenure as Dean, starting in 1996, Dr. Gray took on projects that left an unforgettable mark on the Asper School.
McCallum says that key to his leadership was a strong vision and an open mind: “He wanted to do big things, and he had the imagination to back it up. […] But he wasn’t afraid to trip, or to fail completely.”
Under Dr. Gray’s leadership, the Department of Logistics and Supply Chain was created after he identified the need for it in Manitoba, Canada’s transportation hub.
In one maverick innovation, he led Asper’s campaign to earn AACSB accreditation in March 1999, which was an incredible distinction and a key to the school’s fundraising efforts. At the time, the Asper School was one of the only Canadian schools to receive this accreditation.
He then set his sights on a multi-million dollar fundraising campaign, which included a naming opportunity for the school. Dr. Gray noted that the name needed to reflect entrepreneurship, ethical behaviour, financial success and community focus. He found everything he wanted in Israel Harold Asper.
Thanks to Dr. Gray’s efforts and Asper’s $10 million donation to the school (which was the kickstart to a campaign that ultimately earned $30 million), we now know the faculty of commerce as the I.H. Asper School of Business.
After retiring as Dean in 2005, Dr. Gray transitioned into Dean Emeritus and senior scholar. In this phase of his life, he dedicated his time to friendship and community service, serving as chair and board director for numerous organizations.
As a result of his life’s work, he was a recognized expert in organizational design, managerial leadership, and organizational development. His ultimate legacy, though, says McCallum, lives on through his warm efforts to show students who they were, and what they were capable of doing.
“When you’re a student, you can be very insecure about whether you’re on the right path. But he instilled the confidence in students that they could do anything they wanted to do.”
A celebration of life was held on October 27, 2025. You can read his obituary by clicking here.