Evan Dobelle
Encyclopedia
Evan Samuel Dobelle is a public official and higher-education administrator, is known for promoting higher-education investment in the Creative Economy
, public-private partnership
s and the "College Ready" model that helps students graduate from high school and college.
, and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University
.
Elected mayor
of Pittsfield, Massachusetts
in 1973 and 1975, Dobelle was later Massachusetts State Commissioner of Environmental Management
and Natural Resources
. He was U.S. Chief of Protocol
for the White House
in the Carter
administration with the rank of Ambassador. His wife Kit served as Chief of Protocol and Chief of Staff to First Lady
Rosalyn Carter.
He was treasurer of the Democratic National Committee
and National Chairman of the Carter-Mondale Presidential Committee, and served on California
Governor
Ronald Reagan
's commission for educational reform.
Dobelle was president of Middlesex Community College in Lowell, Massachusetts
from 1987 to 1990, where the library is named after him, and president and chancellor of City College of San Francisco
from 1990-1995. While president of Trinity College
in Hartford, Connecticut
(1995–2001), neighborhood renewal reversed declining enrollments.
As president of the University of Hawaii from 2001 to 2004, he backed unifying the system's campuses, establishing the Academy of Creative Media, building a new medical school
, reforming financial and building practices and strengthening Native Hawaiian
programs.
On June 15, 2004, after a change of Regent leadership by Gubernatorial appointment, Dobelle was fired from his post as president of the University of Hawaii system "for cause." Dobelle had 5 Chairman of the Board in 2 1/2 years and 24 members rotating through 12 seats ultimately having no Regents left who selected him as President. University Regents in leadership at that time were said to have cited concerns about Dobelle's spending, and about his failure to communicate clearly with the board.
After Dobelle was about to file a lawsuit a few weeks later, the university rescinded the firing as part of a mediated settlement. Dobelle agreed to resign from the presidency and not to apply for any other University of Hawaii positions, and the university agreed to a two-year non-tenured research position and a settlement of $1.6 million in cash, a state pension for life, a fully paid $2 million life insurance policy and assumed all legal costs of $1.2 million, with no finding of wrongdoing on the part of either Dobelle or the board.
The ensuing controversy caused a statewide referendum to be passed by 63% that changed the way Regents were appointed by the Governor and was upheld unanimously by the Hawaii Supreme Court.
In 2004, he became president of the New England Board of Higher Education
. A few weeks later he was unanimously chosen to be President of NEBHE by the 48 delegates representing the six New England governors. Dobelle reorganized and focused the organization on core issues of access and affordability, significantly heightening NEBHE’s visibility and increasing external funding. Dobelle also energized participation of the six states in the region for the College Ready initiative and engaged all New England Governors, SHEEOS, and K-12 Education Commissioners in a single cooperative effort to address high school graduation rates and college access.
In December 2007, Dobelle was appointed president of Westfield State University in Westfield, Massachusetts
.
He has researched and compiled the “Saviors of Our Cities” list, which spotlights the top 25 universities and colleges that are “exemplary examples of community revitalization and cultural renewal, economic drivers of the local economy, advocates of community service and urban developers, both commercially as well as in housing.”
Dobelle serves on the Executive Boards of the Consortium of Urban Colleges and Universities ( CUMU), the Commission on Effective Leadership of the American Council on Education (ACE), and the Council on International Education (CIEE).
Dobelle has received accolades during his career for success in community outreach as well as management of colleges inclusive of faculty issues, athletic teams, student engagement and being an agent for change.
Dobelle's brother, scientist William H. Dobelle
, developed a system of artificial vision for the blind.
Creative industries
The creative industries refers to a range of economic activities which are concerned with the generation or exploitation of knowledge and information...
, public-private partnership
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
s and the "College Ready" model that helps students graduate from high school and college.
Life
Evan Samuel Dobelle holds bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in Education Administration from the University of MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
, and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Elected mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
in 1973 and 1975, Dobelle was later Massachusetts State Commissioner of Environmental Management
Environmental management
Environmental resource management is “a purposeful activity with the goal to maintain and improve the state of an environmental resource affected by human activities” . It is not, as the phrase suggests, the management of the environment as such, but rather the management of the interaction and...
and Natural Resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
. He was U.S. Chief of Protocol
Chief of Protocol of the United States
The Chief of Protocol is an officer of the United States Department of State responsible for advising the President of the United States, the vice president, and the secretary of state on matters of national and international diplomatic protocol...
for the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
in the Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
administration with the rank of Ambassador. His wife Kit served as Chief of Protocol and Chief of Staff to First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
Rosalyn Carter.
He was treasurer of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
and National Chairman of the Carter-Mondale Presidential Committee, and served on California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's commission for educational reform.
Dobelle was president of Middlesex Community College in Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
from 1987 to 1990, where the library is named after him, and president and chancellor of City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco, or CCSF, is a two-year community college in San Francisco, California. The Ocean Avenue campus, in the Ingleside neighborhood, is the college's primary location...
from 1990-1995. While president of Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
(1995–2001), neighborhood renewal reversed declining enrollments.
As president of the University of Hawaii from 2001 to 2004, he backed unifying the system's campuses, establishing the Academy of Creative Media, building a new medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
, reforming financial and building practices and strengthening Native Hawaiian
Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians refers to the indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants. Native Hawaiians trace their ancestry back to the original Polynesian settlers of Hawaii.According to the U.S...
programs.
On June 15, 2004, after a change of Regent leadership by Gubernatorial appointment, Dobelle was fired from his post as president of the University of Hawaii system "for cause." Dobelle had 5 Chairman of the Board in 2 1/2 years and 24 members rotating through 12 seats ultimately having no Regents left who selected him as President. University Regents in leadership at that time were said to have cited concerns about Dobelle's spending, and about his failure to communicate clearly with the board.
After Dobelle was about to file a lawsuit a few weeks later, the university rescinded the firing as part of a mediated settlement. Dobelle agreed to resign from the presidency and not to apply for any other University of Hawaii positions, and the university agreed to a two-year non-tenured research position and a settlement of $1.6 million in cash, a state pension for life, a fully paid $2 million life insurance policy and assumed all legal costs of $1.2 million, with no finding of wrongdoing on the part of either Dobelle or the board.
The ensuing controversy caused a statewide referendum to be passed by 63% that changed the way Regents were appointed by the Governor and was upheld unanimously by the Hawaii Supreme Court.
In 2004, he became president of the New England Board of Higher Education
New England Board of Higher Education
The New England Board of Higher Education is an interstate compact founded in 1955 by the six New England governors that promotes greater educational opportunities and services for the residents of New England. The region of New England includes the states of: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,...
. A few weeks later he was unanimously chosen to be President of NEBHE by the 48 delegates representing the six New England governors. Dobelle reorganized and focused the organization on core issues of access and affordability, significantly heightening NEBHE’s visibility and increasing external funding. Dobelle also energized participation of the six states in the region for the College Ready initiative and engaged all New England Governors, SHEEOS, and K-12 Education Commissioners in a single cooperative effort to address high school graduation rates and college access.
In December 2007, Dobelle was appointed president of Westfield State University in Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 41,094 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code is 01085 for homes and businesses, 01086 for Westfield State...
.
He has researched and compiled the “Saviors of Our Cities” list, which spotlights the top 25 universities and colleges that are “exemplary examples of community revitalization and cultural renewal, economic drivers of the local economy, advocates of community service and urban developers, both commercially as well as in housing.”
Dobelle serves on the Executive Boards of the Consortium of Urban Colleges and Universities ( CUMU), the Commission on Effective Leadership of the American Council on Education (ACE), and the Council on International Education (CIEE).
Dobelle has received accolades during his career for success in community outreach as well as management of colleges inclusive of faculty issues, athletic teams, student engagement and being an agent for change.
Dobelle's brother, scientist William H. Dobelle
William H. Dobelle
William H. Dobelle was a biomedical researcher who developed experimental technologies that restored limited sight to blind patients. In addition, Dobelle is known for the major impact that he and his company have had on the breathing pacemaker and the medical community as a whole. He was...
, developed a system of artificial vision for the blind.