Orescanin, Danilo

Danilo Orescanin served Indiana University in a number of different capacities during his career, most notably as Chancellor of IU Northwest and Vice President for University Relations.

In 1983, Orescanin was appointed Vice President for University Relations, a position that had been vacant for nearly three years. In this capacity, he oversaw the News Bureau and the Offices of University Publications, Community Relations, and Special Events, as well as the offices of University Relations at all campuses. He served in this position until 1988, when he returned to teaching management and business policy classes in the School of Business. Orescanin died in 1999.

From the description of Danilo Orescanin speeches, 1983-1987. (Indiana University). WorldCat record id: 52567680

Danilo Orescanin served Indiana University in a number of different capacities during his career, most notably as Chancellor of IU Northwest and Vice President for University Relations.

Orescanin began his term as Chancellor of IU Northwest in 1975. During his tenure, Orescanin was heavily involved in a large number of community organizations, including the Gary (Ind.) Chamber of Commerce, the local chapter of the Red Cross, and the Urban League. In 1983, Orescanin was appointed Vice President for University Relations, a position that had been vacant for nearly three years. He served in this position until 1988, when he returned to teaching management and business policy classes in the School of Business. Orescanin died in 1999.

From the description of Danilo Orescanin speeches, 1976-1983 1976-1979. (Indiana University). WorldCat record id: 52577482

Danilo Orescanin served Indiana University in a number of different capacities during his career, most notably as Chancellor of the Northwest campus and subsequently as Vice President for University Relations. In both positions, he spoke frequently to university and community groups, and worked to strengthen I.U.’s relationship with the community at large.

Orescanin was born 7 April 1932 in Mingo Junction, Ohio, to George and Nellie (Kukich) Orescanin; his father had come to the United States from Serbia at the age of nineteen. Orescanin earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Virginia University in 1953 and an M.B.A. from Indiana University in 1954. He became an industrial engineer at Colgate-Palmolive in Jeffersonville, Indiana; was drafted into the army, in which he served in 1955 and 1956; and returned to I.U. to pursue a doctorate in business in 1957. By the time he received his doctorate in 1960, he had already had a taste of administrative work, having served as administrative assistant to the Dean of the School of Business.

Orescanin became an Assistant Professor of Business at the University of South Florida in Tampa in 1960, where he also served as Assistant Coordinator of Evening and Summer Sessions. In 1963 he returned to Indiana University as Assistant Dean of the Division of University Extension. Over the next nine years, he performed a variety of administrative functions for the University and held appointments first as an assistant and then as an associate professor of business. He was acting director of the Southeast campus from April to August of 1965, following the sudden death of Dr. Byron K. Laird. In the fall of 1965, Orescanin went to Dacca, Pakistan to establish a new graduate program at the Institute of Business Administration, Dacca University, serving as Resident Advisor until 1967. He returned to I.U. and served first as Assistant Dean and later Associate Dean of Research of Advanced Studies, meanwhile serving as Acting Director of Data Systems and Services. In 1969, he was appointed Assistant to President Joseph L. Sutton and Associate Dean for Administration, and continued as Assistant to President John W. Ryan until he was invited to follow David R. Derge to Southern Illinois University following the latter’s appointment as president there early in 1972.

Orescanin served as Derge’s executive assistant at S.I.U. from February to July of 1972, when he became Vice President for Administration and Campus Treasurer. Between July 1973 and March 1974, he also held the position of Executive Vice President. However, in late February 1974, Orescanin called Derge’s attention to procedural irregularities in the use of some $5,000 from the Southern Illinois University Foundation to buy alcohol for presidential functions. As the accounts were under his control, Orescanin resigned from his administrative duties and requested reassignment to a full-time teaching and research position in the business school, which Derge granted. Orescanin was charged with tampering with public records by a grand jury of Jackson County, Illinois, but was acquitted.

Orescanin served as Chancellor of Indiana University Northwest from the fall semester of 1975 until June of 1983, during which time he worked to improve the financial and physical state of the campus and to improve the image of the campus in the surrounding communities. He was involved in a large number of community organizations, and was awarded a National Award for outstanding contributions and service by the Association of Teacher Educators in 1979, the first time the award was ever given to a non-education faculty member.

In June 1983, Orescanin was appointed Vice President for University Relations, a position that had been vacant for nearly three years. In this capacity, he oversaw the News Bureau, and the offices of University Publications, Community Relations, and Special Events, as well as the offices of University Relations at all campuses. He expanded the staff, which had been reduced in size, and implemented programs intended to create a strong statewide image for I. U. He showed a special interest in communities that had not previously had a strong I. U. presence such as “the Batesvilles, the Lawrenceburgs, the Evansvilles, and the Terre Hautes,” as one article put it (Heck, The Columbian, Nov. 1983). He also launched a “Speakers Team” project to invite faculty members with the needed expertise speak to community groups around the state that might have questions about a particular field. His public relations style tended to emphasize personal connections: he compiled a list of “Friends of Indiana” in a wide range of counties and occupations for University Relations use, and sponsored golf events to build ties between members of the administration and influential people outside I. U., such as the news media. He served in the position of Vice President until January 1, 1988, when he returned to teaching management and business policy classes in the business school. In 1992, he was given the Otteson Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award. He retired in December 1992, and died 22 May 1999 at the age of 67 in Tampa, Florida. Orescanin and his wife, Kathleen, had a son, Danilo II, and a daughter, Lori, both of whom earned degrees from I.U.

From the guide to the Danilo Orescanin speeches, 1983-1987, (Indiana University Office of University Archives and Records Management http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives)

Danilo Orescanin served Indiana University in a number of different capacities during his career, most notably as Chancellor of the Northwest campus and subsequently as Vice President for University Relations. In both positions, he spoke frequently to university and community groups, and worked to strengthen I.U.’s relationship with the community at large.

Orescanin was born 7 April 1932 in Mingo Junction, Ohio, to George and Nellie (Kukich) Orescanin; his father had come to the United States from Serbia at the age of nineteen. Orescanin earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Virginia University in 1953 and an M.B.A. from Indiana University in 1954. He became an industrial engineer at Colgate-Palmolive in Jeffersonville, Indiana; was drafted into the army, in which he served in 1955 and 1956; and returned to I.U. to pursue a doctorate in business in 1957. By the time he received his doctorate in 1960, he had already had a taste of administrative work, having served as administrative assistant to the Dean of the School of Business.

Orescanin became an Assistant Professor of Business at the University of South Florida in Tampa in 1960, where he also served as Assistant Coordinator of Evening and Summer Sessions. In 1963 he returned to Indiana University as Assistant Dean of the Division of University Extension. Over the next nine years, he performed a variety of administrative functions for the University and held appointments first as an assistant and then as an associate professor of business. He was acting director of the Southeast campus from April to August of 1965, following the sudden death of Dr. Byron K. Laird. In the fall of 1965, Orescanin went to Dacca, Pakistan to establish a new graduate program at the Institute of Business Administration, Dacca University, serving as Resident Advisor until 1967. He returned to I.U. and served first as Assistant Dean and later Associate Dean of Research of Advanced Studies, meanwhile serving as Acting Director of Data Systems and Services. In 1969, he was appointed Assistant to President Joseph L. Sutton and Associate Dean for Administration, and continued as Assistant to President John W. Ryan until he was invited to follow David R. Derge to Southern Illinois University following the latter’s appointment as president there early in 1972.

Orescanin served as Derge’s executive assistant at S.I.U. from February to July of 1972, when he became Vice President for Administration and Campus Treasurer. Between July 1973 and March 1974, he also held the position of Executive Vice President. However, in late February 1974, Orescanin called Derge’s attention to procedural irregularities in the use of some $5,000 from the Southern Illinois University Foundation to buy alcohol for presidential functions. As the accounts were under his control, Orescanin resigned from his administrative duties and requested reassignment to a full-time teaching and research position in the business school, which Derge granted. Orescanin was charged with tampering with public records by a grand jury of Jackson County, Illinois, but was acquitted.

Orescanin began his term as Chancellor of Indiana University Northwest in the fall semester of 1975. At that time, according to a routine review of Orescanin’s performance conducted in the fall of 1981, the financial and physical conditions of the campus, the morale of the faculty, and the community’s attitude toward the campus were all poor. This review credits Orescanin with “[turning] things around at IUN” through “a clear understanding of what IUN should be, patience, tact, consummate skill in working with diverse community groups, and sound fiscal and managerial policies.” The review describes a leadership style that emphasized communication and the delegation of responsibility to others. He seems to have had an image among the faculty as a manager, rather than an academic, but was able nevertheless to develop a good relationship with the faculty as a whole.

The review notes his efforts in working with the community as a particular strength, which his extensive involvement with a large number of community organizations supports. He served in leadership roles in the Gary Chamber of Commerce (President, 1977-79; Board Member, 1975-at least 1981), the local chapter of the American Red Cross (1976-at least 1981), the Urban League (1975-79), the St. Mary Medical Center (1976-at least 1981), the Lake County Chapter of the Mental Health Association (President beginning in 1981, other leadership positions from 1977-81), and the Northwest Association of Commerce and Industry (1979-at least 1981), and was active in a number of other organizations, including several scholarship committees and the Chicago District of the President’s White House Fellowship Committee (1978-79). As campaign chairman of the local United Way, he set a fundraising record in 1981. He was awarded a National Award for outstanding contributions and service by the Association of Teacher Educators in 1979, the first time the award was ever given to a non-education faculty member.

In June 1983, Orescanin was appointed Vice President for University Relations. In this capacity, he oversaw the News Bureau, and the offices of University Publications, Community Relations, and Special Events, as well as the offices of University Relations at all campuses, and implemented programs intended to create a strong statewide image for I. U. He served in this position until January 1, 1988, when he returned to teaching management and business policy classes in the business school. In 1992, he was given the Otteson Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award. He retired in December 1992, and died 22 May 1999 at the age of 67 in Tampa, Florida. Orescanin and his wife, Kathleen, had a son, Danilo II, and a daughter, Lori, both of whom earned degrees from I.U.

From the guide to the Danilo Orescanin speeches, 1976-1983, bulk 1976-1979, (Indiana University Office of University Archives and Records Management http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives)