Frank Caliendo Named Inaugural Harold Dance Endowed Professor

By Megan Bowen | January 16, 2025
Frank Caliendo
Professor Frank Caliendo

LOGAN, Utah – The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business proudly announces that Dr. Frank Caliendo, Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Economics & Finance, has been appointed as the inaugural Harold Dance Endowed Professor. This prestigious honor recognizes Professor Caliendo’s exceptional contributions to education, research, and service, and it celebrates his deep commitment to the values of the Huntsman School.

The Harold Dance Endowed Professorship was established to honor Harold Dance, a 1948 graduate of Utah State Agricultural College and a pioneer in the field of financial planning. A visionary entrepreneur, Mr. Dance founded Harold Dance Investments in Cache Valley to make investing accessible to his community. Dance’s groundbreaking work, including his advocacy for mutual fund investing and deferred compensation plans, left an enduring legacy in Northern Utah and beyond. As one of the first Certified Financial Planners® in the nation, Dance was dedicated to helping ordinary investors achieve extraordinary results.

“This professorship embodies the principles of excellence, service, and innovation that Harold Dance stood for,” said Douglas D. Anderson, Dean of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business. “It is a fitting tribute to Mr. Dance’s legacy, and Frank Caliendo is the perfect recipient for this honor. His dedication to his students and the broader community reflects the values Mr. Dance so effectively championed.”

Professor Caliendo, a proud Utah State University alumnus, holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a PhD in Economics from USU. Over the years, his career has been marked by numerous accolades, including being named USU’s Eldon J. Gardner Teacher of the Year and receiving the Young Economists Award from the International Institute of Public Finance. Caliendo has held leadership roles at the Huntsman School, including serving as Department Head of Economics and Finance, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and Director of the MBA Program.

Caliendo’s ties to USU run deep, dating back to his childhood when he would ride his bike to campus to visit his father, a beloved professor in the College of Engineering. Today, Caliendo continues that legacy of dedication to the university, inspiring the next generation of leaders both in and out of the classroom.

“Dr. Caliendo is a wonderful representation of everything my father stood for—his values, his integrity, and his dedication to excellence,” said Debra Dance Ellis, the daughter of Harold Dance. “My father would be truly honored to have someone of Dr. Caliendo's exceptional character and commitment carry forward his legacy through this professorship.”

For more information about the Harold Dance Endowed Professorship and the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, please contact Megan Bowen at megan.bowen@usu.edu.