In Memoriam: Assistant Professor Darren Masier

Meredith College mourns the loss of faculty member Darren Masier, who passed away on April 28, 2025. 

Masier served as an assistant professor of organizational development in Meredith’s School of Business beginning in 2017. He taught human resource management courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels and also served as MBA director. 

“Darren’s legacy as an educator is defined by the students whose lives he changed and by the community he helped build,” said Kim Burke, dean of the School of Business.

A Lasting Legacy Through His Students

“Students will tell you Darren was not just a business professor, but a life professor—someone who understood the balance between theory and truth, deadlines and doubts, expectations and empathy,” Burke said. “In the last months of his life, Darren spoke often of his deep gratitude for returning to the classroom. Despite his health challenges, he cherished being with students again, teaching, laughing, and doing the work he loved.” 

Corbyn Wiggins, ’25, called Masier one of the best people she has known, with a legacy that will live on through his former students.

“He was the mentor, friend, and professor who could be trusted with anything, whether it be the decision of what to eat for lunch or the decision to change graduate schools,” Wiggins said. “He has shaped my life in more ways than I can count, including helping me find my passion for helping others. He will never be forgotten.”

Sophie Campbell, ’25, credits Masier with being one of her biggest cheerleaders. 

“I would cry in his office about how I wanted to give up, and he would motivate me to get up once again and keep moving,” Campbell said. “He was one of my biggest motivators throughout my four years at Meredith, and I know for a fact he is motivating me now from heaven. Not having him in my life is definitely different, but I attribute a lot of my success to him.”

Bianca Pavone, ’23 MBA, also reflected on the impact Masier had on many students.

“He was the best professor and mentor I have ever had. He made me feel like I could take on the world,” Pavone said. “He was so inspiring. I’ve never seen someone so passionate about what they do. He just loved it, and he cared so deeply for his students.”

Remembering an “Unshakeable Willingness to Help”

Burke and other colleagues remember Masier for his willingness to help.

“I met Darren as I was moving into my office on my first day on campus. He immediately volunteered to move the heaviest desk I have ever encountered. When he realized that he couldn’t move it alone, he rallied a team, and together we moved the desk, inch by inch, with lots of laughter, across my office,” Burke recalled. “And that day remains defining for me when I think of Darren Masier. From moving office furniture to moving hearts and minds, Darren led with kindness, humor, and humility.”

Burke said she is not alone in having stories about Masier’s helpful nature.

“One of the first memories many of us have of him involves his unshakable willingness to help, whether it was lifting the heaviest desk in the building or helping a student navigate a life decision,” Burke said. “When the task was too big for one person, Darren never hesitated to rally the team, inch by inch, with purpose and laughter,” she said.  

Associate Director of MBA Admissions Ele Roberts recalls working with Masier during a challenging time, having joined the Meredith MBA staff in 2021 in the midst of the pandemic and while the School of Business was in transition. Masier had been appointed to serve as MBA Director while Roberts had the MBA Admissions role, and they worked together to establish a new MBA recruitment system.  

“We came together quickly as a team to figure out what we needed to do, and in only a handful of months, admitted a significant number of students to begin the MBA program in the Fall of 2021,” Roberts said. “Those students admitted that fall remained very special to both Darren and me; they were our first class.”  

Like Burke, Roberts recalls Masier as “unwaveringly supportive” as a colleague.

“If I needed him to help me with a project or help me with my car, he was the type of person who would drop everything to jump in. He somehow balanced being realistic with being perennially optimistic and positive,” Roberts said. “He genuinely saw the best in people and focused on the positive. Darren was a very good listener and endlessly patient. He was a trusted colleague and friend, and he will be missed so much.”

Roberts also noted that Masier encouraged his students to call him Darren rather than Dr. Masier. “This speaks to Darren’s love of connecting with people. He felt that being on a first-name basis with the professor helped students feel significant,” Roberts said.

Michael Altman, assistant professor of practice and director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program, recalled Masier’s role in recruiting him to Meredith.

“Most people describe Darren as this fabulous Human Resources professional and educator, but I beg to differ. For me, his prowess was in sales. I know this because as head of the search committee for my job in 2019, he sold me a picture of the future that was irresistible — come be an intrapreneur and start a brand new program at the best business school for women in the country … I bought it hook, line and sinker and my family and I have never looked back.” Altman said. “It’s hard not seeing him and all his students crammed in the office next door to me. I miss those days ducking out after our classes to go run together at Lake Johnson, his happy place. Thank you, Darren, for the sales pitch, collegiality, and friendship. I miss it all dearly.”

The Meredith College community extends its sympathy to Masier’s friends and family, especially his wife, Terri, and son Noah.

“Terri and Noah were the lights of Darren’s life,” Roberts said. “He was so proud of his son, and I admired him for his effortless parenting.”