IN MEMORIAM

Indiana State University remembers employees that passed away during the academic year. All four were pivotal in providing exceptional learning experiences and giving students the skills and resources to become transformational leaders. This page is dedicated to some of ISU’s most innovative minds who may be gone but never forgotten.

Robert William Elsey Sr.

Dr. Robert Elsey Sr. had a decorated 30-year career at Indiana State University that included serving as the Interim Vice President for Student Affairs when he retired in 2022. He earned his undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. from Purdue University and worked at Purdue and Illinois State University in several positions related to student life before coming to Indiana State. He was best known for helping young adults navigate life’s challenges both on and off campus. Outside of the office, he was known for his involvement in the community and his church. Above all, he loved spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Stephen L. Gage

Dr. Stephen L. Gage lived a life dedicated to his family, music, and music education. At Indiana State University, Gage was the Interim Director of Bands, conducted the Wind Orchestra and Concert Band, taught conducting, and was part of the ISU Music Education Faculty. He touched the lives of countless students in a career that lasted over four decades. He was a former music professor at Youngstown State University, where he was the Director of Bands and the Dana Symphony Orchestra. He worked at colleges in Illinois, Kansas, and New York. Gage wrote numerous published articles on conducting, rehearsal techniques, and wind band literature.

Dr. Stan Buchanan

In Dr. Stan Buchanan’s over 20-year career at Indiana State University, he advised and taught hundreds of Master of Public Administration students who would have successful careers in Indiana and across the country. In ISU’s Department of Political Science, he served as an Associate Professor, Chair, and the Director of the MPA program. He graduated from California Baptist University (BA English, History), Baylor University (MPPA), and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (Ph.D. Political Science). He won the 2006 “Pollyprize” for developing an election forecasting model accurately predicting a Democrat Party takeover of the House of Representatives. He co-authored a paper in 2019 focused on more accurately measuring the degree to which LGBTQ citizens have equal rights at the municipal level for The Journal of Sexuality, Gender, & Policy

Dr. Stephen F. Wolf

Dr. Stephen F. Wolf was a seasoned educator with decades of experience. At Indiana State University, he was a professor of analytical chemistry and cosmochemistry. His passion for teaching won him several prestigious accolades, including the Educational Excellence Award in 2005, Promising Scholar Award in 2007, and the Caleb Mills Distinguished Teaching Award in 2010. He graduated from Purdue University (BA, Chemistry) and (Ph.D., Analytical Chemistry). Wolf’s research interests focused on developing methods for determining the concentration and disposition of major, minor, and trace elements in meteorites. His work has been featured in numerous publications, including Analytical Chemistry and Meteoritics and Planetary Science