It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that I am sharing passing away of my longtime friend, colleague, mentor, counselor, and role model, Dr. Abraham Mulugetta, on January 29, 2024.
Abraham joined the faculty of the School of Business at Ithaca College in 1984. During his 36 years of dedicated service until his retirement in December 2020, he made substantive and impactful contributions to the Finance and International Business curricula and experiential learning of his students.
A beloved professor, Abraham was not only known for his exceptional intellect but also for his kind, compassionate and humble nature. His unwavering commitment to his students went beyond the academic realm; he took a genuine interest in their well-being, serving not just as an educator but as a mentor and friend. Many remember him for his open-door policy, offering guidance and support whenever it was needed. While an esteemed educator, Abraham's legacy extends far beyond the classroom and his students, providing mentorship and wise counsels to many junior faculty, me included, in teaching and scholarship to help in their path to tenure and promotion.
In classroom, Abraham was an innovative and inspiring force. His teaching methods were not confined to traditional boundaries, and he constantly sought new ways to engage and challenge his students. The most enduring legacy that Abraham has left was reimagining finance education by founding the Center for Trading and Analysis of Financial Instruments (aka the Trading Room) in 1995. The first undergraduate facility of its kind in the US, the Trading Room allows students to study financial markets by merging theoretical finance with real time, practical applications using state-of-the-art technology. His dedication to fostering experiential learning, critical thinking and creativity as many alumni attest have left an indelible mark on their collegiate experience.
Ithaca College honored Abraham with numerous awards through inductions in many honor societies (Oracle, Delta Mu Delta, Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Alpha Psi, and Phi Beta Delta), culminating in him receiving the Chaired position of Charles A. Dana Professor of Finance and International Business in 2016 for his “significant contributions in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service”. At the time and in response to this distinction, Abraham said that the establishment of the Trading Room was “the high point of my work as a teacher, scholar, and service provider. … it’s where I have devoted weekends, winter, and summer breaks as well as all my sabbatical leaves, over the last 23 years.”
Dr. Christopher House will officiate Abraham’s memorial service at Ithaca College Muller Chapel on Saturday, February 10th at 9am, followed by prayers of committal at Willow Glen Cemetery.
For those interested in contributing to “Dr. Mulugetta Endowed Scholarship”, please contact hormoz@ithaca.edu.