Bradley to Receive Chancellor's Medallion

Montana Tech Chancellor Don Blackketter will present Dr. Dan Bradley with the Chancellor’s Medallion at the university’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 5, 2018.

The Chancellor’s Medallion is given at the sole discretion of the Chancellor to recognize an alumnus who has excelled in both their educational and professional careers. The award recipients will have earned at least one degree from Montana Tech and will have made significant academic related contributions including professional publications, holding faculty positions, advising graduate students, and participating in academic research.

“I am honored to present Dr. Dan Bradley with the Chancellor’s Medallion,” noted Montana Tech Chancellor Don Blackketter. “Dr. Bradley has made significant academic and personal contributions everywhere he and Cheri have been.”

Awarding of the Chancellor’s medallion began in 2013 with Dr. Joseph E. Cavanaugh and Dr. Lee W. Saperstein receiving the honor. Other Montana Tech alumni receiving the honor are: Dr. Douglas Fuerstenau (2014), Dr. Frank Aplan (2015), Floyd C. Bossard (2015), John Evans (2016), and Johnathan Bardsley (2017).

ABOUT THE AWARDEE:

Daniel Joseph Bradley is a Canadian-American chemist and petroleum engineer, researcher, professor, and administrator. From July 2008 to January of 2018, he served as president of Indiana State University. Before that, he served as president of Fairmont State University, beginning in February 2001. He was previously a professor at Montana Tech of the University of Montana where he held administrative positions as department head, dean, and vice-chancellor.

Bradley was born in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. When he was seven years old, his family moved to California. Bradley became a US Citizen in 1971. He began his college career at University of California Berkeley, from 67-70. After serving in the United States Army from 70-71, Bradley entered Michigan State University, where in 1973, he finished his bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. He continued graduate studies at Michigan State, earning a doctorate in Physical Chemistry in 1978.

Bradley’s scientific research was focused on thermodynamics and the properties of electrolytes and other aqueous solutions. It resulted in what has come to be known as the Bradley-Pitzer equation, which has been frequently used by scientists to calculate the coefficients in the Debye–Hückel equation.

In 1979, Bradley became a faculty member at Montana Tech. He studied petroleum engineering at Montana Tech, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1982. The following year, he obtained a master’s degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Tulsa.

In 1986, Bradley served as interim Dean of Student Affairs. In 1987, he became the director of the International Programs at Montana Tech, serving in the position until 1989, when he became head of the Petroleum Engineering Department. In 1991, he became Dean of Engineering serving until 1998. Bradley became Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Research, serving in that post from 1998 to 2001.

Beginning in 1994, he served on the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a member of the Engineering Accreditation Commission. On the ABET board, he represented the Society of Petroleum Engineers. During his tenure, he also served as chair of the ABET Board of Directors' Finance Committee. In May 2006, he was appointed treasurer of ABET. Bradley was named a Fellow of ABET in 2010.

From 1991-1997, Bradley wrote or co-wrote and managed over 5 million dollars in Training Grants at Montana Tech.

In February 2001, Bradley was appointed the president of Fairmont State University where he served until June of 2008. At FSU, Bradley oversaw significant changes to the university’s academic programs and infrastructure including offering its first graduate degrees. During his presidency, the university was involved in construction projects valued at more than $100 million. Bradley was responsible for implementing the university’s first major capital campaign and successful Strategic Plan, Defining our Future.

In July 2008, Bradley became President of Indiana State University. He was the 11th person to serve in the position since the school’s founding in 1865. Bradley’s tenure at ISU was marked by record growth. During the first five years of the Strategic Plan, The Pathway to Success, the University’s enrollment rose to a record high of over 13,500 students. This was a significant increase from 10,500 students at the beginning of his tenure. The University also received national recognition for Community Service, being ranked #1 by Washington Monthly. ISU experienced gains in its four-year graduation rates and became known as an institution focused on student success and access. As recently as March 2017, Bradley successfully lobbied against decreases in University funding, as proposed in the 2018–19 State budget. Those efforts lead to a $4.7 million increase focused on improving student outcomes. Bradley oversaw several university construction and renovation projects totaling more than $300 million, which included a $64 million project to improve the facilities of the College of Health and Human Services and construction/remodeling of residence halls containing more than 3000 beds.

In 2010, Bradley was among the seventy-one college administrators signing "a pledge to improve student learning." They were part of the Presidents' Alliance for Excellence in Student Learning and Accountability. In 2011, oil was rediscovered in Terre Haute. Two years later, Bradley celebrated a successful drilling effort on the university property by presenting jars full of crude oil to the school’s Board of Trustees. In the first year of extraction, oil production had generated about $350,000 in revenue for the University.

In April 2017, Bradley announced he would be stepping down as President of Indiana State. Although his contract was not due to expire until June 2019, he said the planned retirement was due to a desire to spend more time with his family and pursue other interests.

Bradley is married to Cheri Bradley. Together they have three sons and four grandchildren. The Bradley’s are now enjoying a sabbatical before returning to ISU to continue with the University in phased retirement.