School of Management Associate Dean of Graduate Admissions Hayden Estrada, 51, died on Tuesday following a “brief illness,” the school announced Thursday.
His Boston University colleagues said he will be remembered as a great co-worker, friend and leader.
“Hayden was an incredible leader and an incredible friend of many at SMG,” SMG Dean Kenneth Freeman said in a phone interview.
SMG Associate Dean John Chalykoff, a close friend and co-worker of Estrada’s, called his death “a tremendous loss.”
“Imagine going to work with someone who’s really fun, really bright, has great ideas, never had anything negative to say about anyone,” Chalykoff said in a phone interview with The Daily Free Press. “He was an infectious guy, he had the best interest of not only admissions, but he had the whole school in mind.”
Chalykoff told The Free Press that Estrada was “the best admissions person in the country.”
“He brought a whole other level to SMG and the way we conduct admissions,” he said. “He’s certainly missed here.”
In his email addressed to the BU community, Chalykoff called Estrada “a consummate professional, whose leadership raised the number and profile of applications to the School of Management graduate programs, which, in turn helped raised the position of the School in the rankings.”
Prior to his arrival at Boston University in 2004, Estrada worked for admissions at the University of Notre Dame, Vanderbilt University, the University of Maryland and Babson College, according to Chalykoff’s letter.
He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in management at Johnson &’ Wales University and his M.B.A. at Babson College, according to Chalykoff’s letter.
Estrada was also vice president of education at the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, a non-profit that aims to “foster Hispanic leadership through graduate management education and professional development,” according to its website.
Along with his work at the NSHMBA, Estrada advocated diversity through his work in admissions at SMG, Chalykoff said in the letter.
“He helped to promote Boston University’s graduate management programs by travelling extensively to new markets &- including Asia and India to recruit directly, and to keep his finger on the pulse of the applicant pool,” he wrote.
One of his greatest contributions to SMG was launching initiatives aimed at enhancing communication with applicants, Chalykoff’s email said.
“Hayden led a team of dedicated and respected professionals who will continue to benefit from his wisdom, his vision, and his professional example,” he wrote.
His wife Nona Ai-Estrada, daughter Kaighla Rose Estrada and son Hayden Francis Estrada V, survive him, according to a Boston Globe obituary.
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