David S. Dodge
Encyclopedia
David Stuart Dodge was the Vice-President for Administration (1979-83), Acting President (1981-82) and President (1996-97) of the American University of Beirut
(AUB).
.
He received his high school education at Deerfield Academy
and BA at Princeton University
(1945). For his masters, also at Princeton, he studied Arabic and Middle East
Studies.
during World War II
. After the war, he found employment at Aramco in the late 1940s and worked for the Trans-Arabian Pipeline Company
(TAPCO) from 1952 to 1977. He returned to the States and served as president of the Near East Foundation
from 1977 to 1979.
In 1961, Mr. Dodge had joined the Board of Trustees of AUB. In 1979, he returned to Beirut and joined the faculty of AUB. He served as acting president of AUB from 1981 to 1982, when his service was interrupted violently. Following his ordeal, Mr. Dodge moved to Princeton, New Jersey
, where he worked briefly as recording secretary of Princeton University. That same year (1983), he rejoined the board of AUB. He served as president of AUB from 1996 to 1997 from its offices in New York City
.
During his career, Dodge also served as president of the Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation.
, who succeeded Dodge as president of AUB, was shot and killed outside his AUB office in January 1984.
He married the former Margaret White in 2002.
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
(AUB).
Background
Dodge came from a prominent American, closely involved with Lebanon for well over a century:[His] family has led AUB for generations. Born in Beirut in 1922, Mr. Dodge was the son of former AUB President Bayard DodgeHe was also the grandson of Cleveland H. Dodge, founder of the Near East FoundationBayard DodgeBayard Dodge was an Islamic scholar and former president of the American University in Beirut. He graduated from Princeton University in 1909. Dodge succeeded his father-in-law, Howard Bliss, as president of the American University in Beirut, then known as the Syrian Protestant College, in 1923...
, the grandson of former President Howard Bliss, and the great-grandson of Daniel BlissDaniel BlissDaniel Bliss was the founder of the American University of Beirut.-Life and Work:...
, who founded AUB in 1866.
Near East Foundation
The Near East Foundation , formerly the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief , is a Syracuse, NY-based American development agency founded in 1915....
.
He received his high school education at Deerfield Academy
Deerfield Academy
Deerfield Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school in Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States. It is a four-year college-preparatory school with approximately 600 students and about 100 faculty, all of whom live on or near campus....
and BA at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
(1945). For his masters, also at Princeton, he studied Arabic and Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
Studies.
Career
Dodge served in the OSSOSS
-Science and technology:* Open-source software* Open Sound System, a standard interface for making and capturing sound in Unix operating systems* Open Search Server, search engine software...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, he found employment at Aramco in the late 1940s and worked for the Trans-Arabian Pipeline Company
Trans-Arabian Pipeline Company
The Trans-Arabian Pipeline , was an oil pipeline from Qaisumah in Saudi Arabia to Sidon in Lebanon. In its heyday, it was an important factor in the global trade of petroleum—helping with the economic development of Lebanon—as well as American and Middle Eastern political...
(TAPCO) from 1952 to 1977. He returned to the States and served as president of the Near East Foundation
Near East Foundation
The Near East Foundation , formerly the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief , is a Syracuse, NY-based American development agency founded in 1915....
from 1977 to 1979.
In 1961, Mr. Dodge had joined the Board of Trustees of AUB. In 1979, he returned to Beirut and joined the faculty of AUB. He served as acting president of AUB from 1981 to 1982, when his service was interrupted violently. Following his ordeal, Mr. Dodge moved to Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, where he worked briefly as recording secretary of Princeton University. That same year (1983), he rejoined the board of AUB. He served as president of AUB from 1996 to 1997 from its offices in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
During his career, Dodge also served as president of the Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation.
Hostage
On July 19, 1982, Dodge was abducted from the AUB campus by pro-Iranian Shiite Muslim extremists and held until his release exactly one year later. "The kidnapping, and the ensuing diplomatic efforts to secure Mr. Dodge’s release, received worldwide news coverage." The Syrian government helped secure his release from Iran, after being held initially in Lebanon. Dodge was one of the first Americans kidnapped. Some hostages were killed and others released after many years, including Terry A. Anderson. Malcolm H. KerrMalcolm H. Kerr
Malcomb H. Kerr was a university professor, specializing in the Middle East and the Arab world. Although a citizen of the United States of America, he was born and raised, and died, in Beirut, Lebanon...
, who succeeded Dodge as president of AUB, was shot and killed outside his AUB office in January 1984.
Personal life
Dodge married Doris Westfall Dodge; they were married until her death in 2000. Together, they had four children: Nina, Bayard, Melissa, and Simon.He married the former Margaret White in 2002.