Evaluating Former President David Dooley

[sbrand]

I am interested in getting everyone's impression on whether or not this board was satisfied with former president Dr. David Dooley's body of work. I am going to do some research on what was accomplished during his tenure, but I also want to know from Keaney Blue your thoughts.

[section(105)]

…….easy for, rate him high, got the fact the Athletics was a way to further grow the university brand, made significant campus academic buildings, raised the academic level of faculty, got that working with the state legislature was at best a challenge for further university growth, set up the board level decision/advisory body……was approachable, showed up for games, developed rapport with Alumni groups……..invited various supporters into his box……..sorry he left…….second thought, on the down side, even though on campus housing was increased during his time, not enough to relieve the pressure of off campus housing…….

[RhowdyRam02]

I wrote the following about a year ago and I stand by it today

Good for Channel 10 for reporting on a story that should have been a statewide scandal for years. You can't have quality higher education at a reasonable cost the way Rhode Island has funded its state colleges.
Rhode Island was one of four states to allocate less than 3% of total tax revenue to higher education in 2016. New Hampshire was at 1.9%, Vermont was 2.5%, Pennsylvania was 2.7% and we were 2.9%
URI received more than $5 million more in state appropriations in 2007 than we did in the past fiscal year.
URI is projecting an $18 or 19 million shortfall this coming year.
Provost Don DeHayes said URI may have to dip into its emergency contingency fund but would then have to find a way to replace that money.

Dr. David M. Dooley is a damn miracle worker. Under his leadership we have somehow become a better University despite all of this. He might be the best and most important thing to happen to the University since the G.I. Bill and students using that after World War 2 made the University greatly expand

[sbrand]

WOW. Powerful stuff.

What about his contributions to the basketball program?

[rhodysurf]

Dr. David M. Dooley is a damn miracle worker. Under his leadership we have somehow become a better University despite all of this. He might be the best and most important thing to happen to the University since the G.I. Bill and students using that after World War 2 made the University greatly expand

Yeah I care more about the academics, specifically engineering and the bay campus the most and what he accomplished with the engineering program is just so impactful. Industry dollars and partnerships are finally flowing into the school thanks to the investment in facilities. On a wider scale than athletics, strong STEM programs bring industry, industry brings jobs, jobs bring money, etc etc. It's still starting, and I hope it continues.

[section(105)]

WOW. Powerful stuff.

What about his contributions to the basketball program?

…….he supported hoops from what I saw, showed up for many games, went to tourney games, correct?………regarding dollars to further grow the program?…….not known to me, but I do recall couple of Alumni events where he spoke and said basketball was a visible vehicle to raise the level of the total university community……..are we gonna see the new president high given high fives to players coming off the court……?…….he signed off on moving on from Baron…….

[sbrand]

He also accommodated many of Hurley's requests and matched UCONN's offer.

[Obadiah]

Interesting question. I thought Carothers was a relatively good president, but the Y2K flap with the then Board of Governors was a turning point in his tenure and while many people, including me, came to his defense to stave off his firing, Carothers was emasculated by that affair and never regained his previous effectiveness. I remember once in the early 2000's he capped funding for URI Athletics, which was in my opinion was unforgivable. Carothers also played a too passive role in the late nineties when there was a move to drop football. So my assessment of Carothers changed which is why I get agitated when I see a Carothers jersey hanging from the Ryan rafters. Why? Because they credit him with building the Ryan Center?!!

Dooley was a breath of fresh air when he arrived in Kingston. Dooley is a California guy spent many years at Montana State U. His western pedigree and that region's typically strong support of athletics in the scope of a university came through in all my dealings with him. URI greatly benefited all around as Dooley's constantly pushed the importance of the State's flagship institution to the State. His contribution was much greater than Carothers and yet Carothers has his jersey hanging in Ryan and has the library named after him, while Dooley has the new engineering quad name after him. Doesn't seem fair or reflective of reality.

Now we have Marc Parlange as president and I have high hopes. This is man of high intellect, a Renaissance man if you will, but not bookish and very pragmatic. He has shown balls in his move to revoke the honorary degrees given to Giuliani and Flynn. We need Parlange to get very much engaged on several fronts and he must show deft handling of the interaction with the state government leaders from the beginning. Any significant success here will bring huge and lasting benefits to the entire school including Athletics. Carothers and Dooley are gone and Parlange is our great hope going forward. Parlange has one big asset that Carothers and Dooley did not have. URI now has its own board of trustees comprised of people who love the school and are not political hacks like the old BOG. This combination is why I have great hopes for the future.

[sbrand]

And Marc doesn't not think statewide. He is a global guy who has forged partnership all over the world. His potential could be limitless.

[section(105)]

And Marc doesn't not think statewide. He is a global guy who has forged partnership all over the world. His potential could be limitless.

……time will tell, I will be watching……..hopefully his global views will blind him from is going on down the hill………

[Maine66]

Dr. Dooley was an excellent president and we were damn lucky to have him. When we had our 50th reunion, many classmates had not been back to campus either since graduation or at least several years. They were amazed at what was accomplished and what was on the drawing board. Gave us all a renewed pride in our university.