In Memoriam: Steven W. Floyd

Steven W. Floyd (72), a distinguished professor of management, died Oct. 18 at his home after a brief illness. Floyd was a leading scholar in the areas of strategy process and change.

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Floyd worked at UMass Amherst from 1987 to 1990 as an assistant professor. He returned in 2011 as a tenured professor of management, ending his time at UMass as Eugene Isenberg Professor of Integrative Studies. He was confirmed the title of professor emeritus. Floyd also held faculty positions at Old Dominion University, University of Connecticut, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland and University of Virginia.

During his career, he published more than one hundred research articles and scholarly books. He was an active member of the Academy of Management, the Strategic Management Society, the Society for the Advancement of Management Studies, and other professional associations.

As significant as his own research, Floyd made important contributions as a journal editor, reviewer and mentor. Indeed, Floyd's greatest professional legacy may be the dozens of doctoral students and junior faculty he unselfishly nurtured and mentored.

At the time of his death, Steve was working with, and mentoring students of his former students, helping them launch their careers and build the pipeline of the next generation of management scholars.

Steve was born in Phoenix, Arizona on Feb. 2, 1950. He graduated from Folsom High School in Folsom California in 1968, he earned his BA (with honors) in philosophy from the University of Houston in 1972, and his MBA from the University of Colorado in 1978.  A natural scholar, he left left his position in industry and earned his Ph.D. in management from the University of Colorado in 1986.

On May 19, 1973, Steve married Beverly Weaver (nee) and her two young children, James and Aaron, who he adored and raised as his own. Together, the family embarked on a lifelong journey that began with the birth of their third son, Steve, Jr.

During his final years, Steve battled Parkinson's disease.

More information is available in the full obituary.