Remembrance for Mason Carpenter

by Stephen Malpezzi, Department Chair, Professor and Lorin and Marjorie Tiefenthaler Distinguished Chair in Real Estate

We in the Real Estate Program join the rest of the UW community, his family, and many others, in mourning the passing of our friend and colleague Professor Mason Carpenter.

As many readers of this posting know, Mason was Weikel Professor of Leadership in our school’s Management Department. Academically, Mason a prolific scholar, one of those unusual individuals who publishes both in the top research journals in his field like the Academy of Management Journal, and who simultaneously write the textbooks that interpret that latest research for students and the business community. A master teacher, Mason’s enthusiasm for his subject was evident to his friends on the faculty as well as to the many students he touched.

A true believer in a boundary-free UW and “lifetime learning,” Mason liked to open up his teaching beyond the classroom to anyone who would take a little time; the second best way to remember him is to have a look at some of his teaching materials that he thoughtfully posted here and here.

Here you’ll find a wealth of practical and experiential material, on topics like how to build a more productive network, effective mentoring, and deeper ways of thinking about diversity. Those of us who teach will find material on how to be a better teacher. Mason was a great producer and collector of multimedia; the websites will connect you to many of his own lectures on YouTube as well as lessons from clips from Dr. Strangelove, Glengarry Glen Ross, and of course The Onion.

So, what’s the best way to remember Mason Carpenter? I can think of no better way to honor Mason’s love of learning than to consider contributing to his children’s education. A fund for the future educational expenses of his sons Zachary (13) and Wesley (9) has been established. Donations may be directed to the Carpenter Family Fund, M&I Bank, 7447 University Ave., Middleton, WI 53562.