Dr. Raghibir "Raj" S. Basi
May 6, 2026
Dr. Raghbir (Raj) S. Basi, 96, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2025, surrounded by his family. A service to celebrate his life took place in Napa, Calif. on May 20, 2025. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and mentor, and his presence is deeply missed.
Raj's personable and engaging personality touched all who knew him, and his deep commitment to serving others defined his work and life. Endlessly curious, he embraced life with an open mind, and his warmth gave him a genuine ability to connect with people from all walks of life. An optimist by nature, he enjoyed engaging with interesting ideas, particularly those that might improve the lives and dignity of others.
Raj arrived in Alaska to establish Alaska Pacific University (APU) in 1978, first as Executive Dean, and then as the founding Provost of the newly created institution, where he was later appointed Chair, Glenn and Eva Olds Professor of International Understanding, and awarded Emeritus status. His areas of focus included economic development, international trade and finance, and organizational administration. He was an active member of the Alaska World Affairs Council, served as Managing Director of the Anchorage World Trade Center (1986-87), and as President of the Board of Directors of Chugach Electric Corporation (1987-88).
Prior to his time in Alaska, Raj was a Professor at Kent State University, where he was the Founder/Director of the Center for Peaceful Change, established as a living memorial for the students who lost their lives during the anti-war protests on May 4, 1970. He also served as a Consultant to the Planning Commission of India in 1963, and from 1967 to 1970 on behalf of the Ford Foundation as Senior Economic Advisor to the Government of Saudi Arabia. In 1999, Raj took early retirement from APU, and applying the principles of his experience and ethos, established the Village Life Improvement Foundation (VLIF) in India, pioneering a holistic model of stakeholder-led rural development. As a complimentary initiative, Raj subsequently established an entrepreneurship center at SGGS College, Mahilpur, to transform traditional village societies into entrepreneurial economies, building upon and extending the work of VLIF for greater collective impact.
Raj was educated at Panjab University (F.A.) in India, the University of British Columbia (B.A.-Honours; B.S.W.) in Canada, and Harvard (M.P.A.) and Cornell (Ph.D.) Universities in the United States. Raj authored several publications including his latest book, Contextual Management: A Global Perspective. He is survived by his beloved wife of over 60 years, Brij; their children; grandchildren; and many loved ones.
