It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dolores Duncan Wharton on June 7, 2025. Born in 1927 in New York City, she lived her life as a passionate advocate, leaving behind a legacy of excellence, service and pioneering spirit.
In 1950, Dolores wed Clifton R. Wharton Jr., who would serve as MSU’s president from 1970 to 1978. Their union was one of love and shared aspirations. They raised two sons, Bruce Wharton and Clifton R. Wharton III, and charted paths that broke barriers and championed social justice.
Dolores was a graduate of Chicago Teachers College (now Chicago State University), where she earned a bachelor of fine arts degree. Over the years, she expanded her vitae by receiving nine honorary doctors of humane letters, acknowledgments of her significant contributions to society.
Throughout her illustrious career, Dolores carved out spaces for women and people of color in the corporate world. She founded and later retired as the chair and chief executive officer of the Fund for Corporate Initiatives, Inc. She also became the first woman and first Black director on the boards of Phillips Petroleum, Kellogg Co. and Gannett, where she championed corporate social responsibility. She also held significant roles in companies like COMSAT, Michigan Bell Telephone, NY Telephone and Capital Bank and Trust in Albany, New York.
In academia and board service, Dolores was equally influential. She was a revered member of the board of governors for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and held trusteeships at organizations like the Asia Society, Aspen Institute, Albany Law School and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
A fervent advocate for the arts, Dolores’ influence was international. While residing in southeast Asia from 1958 to 1964, she undertook a comprehensive study of Malaysian artists, resulting in the acclaimed book, “Contemporary Artists of Malaysia: A Biographic Survey.” Appointments by President Gerald Ford to the National Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts and by Michigan Gov. William Milliken to the Michigan Council for the Arts further highlighted her passionate role in the arts community. Her trusteeships at the Museum of Modern Art, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Albany Institute of History and Art are testament to her enduring advocacy and impact.
As MSU’s first lady, Dolores pursued her passion by celebrating Spartan artists. “I find the art being produced by the faculty to be extremely provocative. It has given me richer insights into the university and certainly a deeper appreciation,” she said. Perhaps her most significant achievement at MSU was the replacement, in partnership with her husband, of the old MSU Auditorium with an expanded performing arts center in 1982. “We felt very strongly — Dolores in particular — that we needed to have a new facility,” Clifton Wharton said in a 2009 interview. Named Wharton Center for Performing Arts in their honor, it stands today as the primary performance venue at MSU as well as a valued cultural resource for the Greater Lansing community.
In recent years, MSU has honored the legacy and transformative leadership of Dolores and Clifton Wharton with the “The Wharton Series,” held at the Lincoln Center in New York City.
Dolores’ life was one of purpose, vision, tenacity and an unwavering belief in the importance of the arts. Her legacy is a beacon for many, illuminating the path of leadership, inclusion and dedication to society’s betterment. As we remember and celebrate her, let’s continue to draw inspiration from her extraordinary life to extend her legacy of elevating equity and the arts here at MSU and beyond.
