The Wisconsin School of Business is proud to recognize Dan Kelly (BBA ’84, MBA ’85) with the Distinguished Business Alumni Award.
This award honors individuals with exceptional careers who have made far-reaching impacts in their community, their industry, and at UW–Madison.
“Dan is the ultimate Badger and the epitome of the Wisconsin Idea,” says Professor Emerita Joan Schmit, who served as the American Family Insurance Distinguished Chair of Risk Management at WSB from 1994 to 2024. “He extends the reach of the school and university as wide as possible. He’s also bright, talented, creative, hardworking—and lots of fun.”
After graduating with two degrees from WSB, Kelly launched his financial career at Arthur Andersen & Co. in Milwaukee. He’d then go on to spend more than 35 years with American Family Insurance. Throughout his tenure with the Madison-based company, Kelly served in a variety of senior management positions, including vice president of human resources, chief financial officer, and chief underwriting officer.
Among his other achievements, Kelly has been specifically recognized for his efforts to strengthen the relationship between his alma mater and his longtime employer. By building up the mutually beneficial partnership between American Family Insurance and UW–Madison, Kelly paved the way for increased educational opportunities, recruiting, and innovation through initiatives like the Creative Destruction Lab. Kelly also spearheaded the AmFam Badger Network, a group of American Family employees who are UW–Madison alumni, to further support the university.
In addition to building up the partnership, Kelly has given back to WSB through teaching, board service, and philanthropy. He’s held teaching positions at WSB and the Center for Professional and Execuive Development, and has served multiple terms on the Dean’s External Advisory Board. He is also a member of the school’s Risk Management & Insurance MBA Advisory Board, previously served on the Department of Accounting Advisory Board, and received the Distinguished Accounting Alumni Award in 2016 from UW–Madison.
“Dan is the ultimate Badger and the
—WSB Professor Emerita Joan Schmit
epitome of the Wisconsin Idea.”
Kelly has also been involved with numerous educational initiatives and boards across campus. He is a member of the UW Carbone Cancer Center Advisory Board, and has served on its executive committee since 2023. That same year, Kelly was also appointed to the University of Wisconsin Athletic Board.
A lifelong Wisconsin sports fan and supporter, Kelly is a Badger basketball and football season ticket holder, and has competed in UW’s Crazylegs Classic for the past 37 years.
“Dan’s enthusiasm for the school and university is inspiring,” says Schmit. “He gives daily of himself, and we are incredibly fortunate for it.”
Read about the other 2024 WSB Alumni Award recipients.
From the Dean
“Dan might be among the most well-known alumni across the breadth of our campus, a tribute that has come from hard work over many years. Whether it is serving on a board, launching a speaker series, teaching a class or starting a golf outing, we are grateful for Dan’s tireless commitment to WSB and UW–Madison.”