ASU Foundation mourns Boulden


Micheal D. Boulden, chief of staff for the ASU Foundation for the past two years, passed away Feb. 18.

Boulden, originally from Chicago, enrolled at Iowa State University in 1988 to pursue a marketing degree. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1992 and stayed at ISU to earn his master's degree in marketing in 1995.

During his college career, Boulden was a highly visible activist for minority issues. He spent several years protesting civil-rights controversies on campus as a member of ISU's Black Student Alliance. He later continued his advocacy for minority groups by accepting a position with the ISU Foundation and ISU Alumni Association during his senior year of graduate school.

He was the first student to hold the minority student assistantship position with both organizations.

Boulden's professional career included more than 12 years of customer-service management and business development. Before joining the ASU Foundation in 2005, Boulden worked for Kraft Foods Inc. and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa in customer service and project-management roles.

At the ASU Foundation, Boulden's responsibilities as chief of staff included management of special projects, human resources and board relations. His dedication to higher education and fund raising was evident in his commitment to ASU and the foundation.

Boulden enjoyed bicycling, golf and football. He was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs.

Boulden is survived by his 3-year-old daughter, Maya; his former wife, Melanie; his mother, sister, brother and nephew; and many friends and ASU Foundation colleagues. Memorial service arrangements are pending.