Dobelle Honored as 2004 Distinguished Citizen Scholar by University of Massachusetts

University of Hawaiʻi President Evan S. Dobelle was in Amherst, Mass., last month to receive the 2004 Distinguished Citizen Scholar award from the University of Massachusetts (UMass). The recognition is awarded annually to an individual who, over his or her lifetime, has been a public intellectual and an agent of change, combining critical analysis of social issues with creative and strategic action in pursuit of the common good.

Dobelle was presented with the award at the 6th Annual Citizen Scholars Recognition Ceremony at the UMass Lincoln Campus Center. He was recognized for his innovative public-private partnerships for neighborhood revitalization and his strong commitment to the liberal arts, research and technology.

The Citizen Scholars Program is a two-year academic service-learning program for UMass undergraduates offering an environment for students to think critically about social issues and act creatively to produce change. Students in the program attended a seminar with Dobelle prior to the ceremony, and Dobelle also spoke at a breakfast with UMass faculty members.

Previous Distinguished Citizen Scholars include former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich; Nadinne Cruz, former director of the Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford University; and Pennsylvania Senator Harris Wofford, former CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service.