Dr. David Kelley to Retire, The Atlas Society | Ayn Rand, Objectivism, Atlas Shrugged

The Atlas Society (TAS) announces that David Kelley, PhD, its founder and Chief Intellectual Officer, will retire at the end of 2017. Two years ago, Kelley informed his colleagues on the Board of Trustees that he wanted to leave full-time work for TAS at the end of 2017, to pursue his own research and writing in philosophy, pending a successful execution of a transition plan. The early 2016 appointment of Jennifer Anju Grossman as CEO, says Kelley, “was a huge step forward for the organization. I’m leaving TAS in good hands.” Kelley will continue to participate occasionally in TAS programs as writer, speaker, and advisor.

Dr. Kelley founded TAS in 1990 to help launch an independent branch of the Objectivist movement and to advance the philosophy. Prior to 2016, Kelley was actively involved in managing the organization as CEO or co-CEO. His intellectual contributions include:

The Contested Legacy of Ayn Rand: Truth and Toleration in Objectivism, which established the organization’s commitment to open discussion, debate, and expansion of Objectivism;
Unrugged Individualism: The Selfish Basis of Benevolence;
A Life of One’s Own: Individual Rights and the Welfare State;
The Logical Structure of Objectivism (with William R Thomas); and
Hundreds of articles and lectures, for TAS and other organizations, applying Objectivism to theoretical, political, and personal issues.

Kelley also worked John Aglialoro as consultant on scripts for the three-part film adaptation of Atlas Shrugged.

Jay Lapeyre, Chair of the TAS Board, will present Dr. Kelley with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Atlas Society Gala in New York City on October 10—the 60th anniversary of the publication of Atlas Shrugged.

Lapeyre reflects: "David founded The Atlas Society with a commitment to seek the truth above loyalty to people or authority. His extraordinary intellect, courage, and integrity dramatically expanded the opportunity for Objectivism to engage and educate new allies in promoting these powerful and inspiring ideas."