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Prolific Scholar of the Human Mind

Dean Elliott Frost ’77

March 6, 2025, in St. Paul, Minnesota, of cancer.

Dean Frost was a proud Reedie who majored in psychology, writing his thesis on the effects of stress on leadership. He then attended the University of Washington, where he received a master’s degree and a PhD in psychology.

Born in 1954 in Minot, North Dakota, and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Dean was a prolific scholar of the human mind. He published work on implicit leadership theory, management development, emotional intelligence, financial decision-making, and social power, working for a staggering range of organizations (including FEMA and Intel).

An educator to his core, Dean became a professor of industrial psychology at Portland State University, as well as at the University of Virginia, Duquesne University, and Walden University. He was a passionate teacher, whether he was mentoring university students or helping his grandchildren with homework or fishing.

After nearly two years of “cancering” with courage and grace, Dean passed away peacefully with family at home in St. Paul. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Engdahl, and his daughter, Safiya Smith.

Appeared in Reed magazine: Winter 2025

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