Ibrahim S. ‘Dr. K’ Kurtulus, former VCU supply chain professor and novelist, dies at 80
The professor emeritus built an international academic career before turning to writing in retirement.
By Megan Nash
Ibrahim S. “Dr. K” Kurtulus, Ph.D., professor emeritus of supply chain management and analytics whose academic path carried him from Türkiye to two major U.S. universities before joining the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business, died Dec. 9 at age 80.
Kurtulus spent his university career studying and teaching operations and supply chain management, first as a scholar trained at the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and later as a faculty member at VCU.
Born in Tarsus and raised in Samsun, Kurtulus attended Robert College in Istanbul before earning his bachelor’s degree as valedictorian from Middle East Technical University in Ankara. He moved to the United States for graduate study, completing an M.B.A. at Michigan and his doctoral degree at UNC, where he met Susana. The two shared 43 years of marriage, traveling often and taking part in Richmond’s arts community and local writing circles.
After 35 years at VCU, Kurtulus retired and shifted his attention to writing. He took part in workshops, joined regional writing groups and published his first novel, “The Runner in the Glass,” in 2024. His second manuscript, “The Wall,” was nearing completion. In a 2012 letter to James River Writers, he wrote that “two sets of events forced me to write,” pointing to the stories he heard in childhood and his wish to revisit the events of the 1960s for current generations.
Kurtulus came from a family closely tied to public service in Türkiye. His mother, Judge Sabahat Kurtulus, was among the first three women appointed to the nation’s Supreme Court of Appeal. His father, Dr. Fahri Kurtulus, was elected to Parliament at age 30 and practiced pediatrics throughout his life. His grandfather, a physician, served during the Battle of Trablusgarp (Tripoli) in the Italo-Turkish War, and his grandmother was a nurse.
“Losing a longtime member of the VCU community is never easy,” said Brett Massimino, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Supply Chain Management and Analytics. “The outpouring of support across VCU speaks volumes about the meaningful and lasting impact of his contributions to our programs, students, faculty and the School of Business. We’re grateful for his many years of service.”
Kurtulus is survived by his sister and extended family members. He is preceded in death by his parents.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at Bliley’s – Central, 3801 Augusta Ave. in Richmond. The family will receive friends one hour prior.
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