Daniel C. Dobbins is Installed as McKendree's 33rd President
by Stephanie (Coartney) Dulaney, ’10
For President Daniel C. Dobbins ’81, the call to lead his alma mater was not only about what he could accomplish singularly
but also his desire to unite the talents, determination and resilient spirit of all
those who make up the University community, as “One McKendree.”
President Dobbins began his new role on Jan. 1, 2020, but it was not until the Founders
Day observance on Feb. 19, 2021, that he was formally installed in a socially distanced
inauguration ceremony. After nearly a year of unprecedented challenges caused by the
coronavirus pandemic, the University paused to draw inspiration from its 193-year
history of leaders who endured tough times of their own, as well as celebrate President
Dobbins’ leadership and hope for the future.
“There is no doubt that little has been customary about President Dobbins’ first year
as president,” said Board of Trustees Chair Daniel Lett ’91. “But he has served the University with perseverance, dedication and flexibility.
Today we celebrate his leadership and the strength of the University during this difficult
time.”
Former President James Dennis called 2020 “a year unlike any other,” and even President
Dobbins acknowledged in his inauguration address that “none of us could have foreseen
the disruption caused by COVID-19 this past year.” Through it all, he held the University
true to its mission, continuing to provide students a quality education through virtual
and safely distanced in-person classes.
Founders Day gave President Dobbins the opportunity to give credit to the McKendree
community and the ways he was inspired by their ability to thrive in the face of adversity.
“I’m extremely proud of how our McKendree team rallied to execute our mission and
provide a high-quality learning experience during this crisis,” he said. “Our students
were able to continue their goal of pursuing their college degrees.
Together, we made that possible with ingenuity, perseverance and flexibility. I witnessed
the can-do spirit of our students, faculty, and staff. They demonstrated what we can
accomplish when we all work hard together.”
That spirit of unity behind one purpose is what President Dobbins believes enables
us to achieve the impossible, and it is why he has declared “One McKendree” the theme
of his presidency. “Our students, alumni, faculty and staff all have a unique McKendree
experience,” he said. “It was important to me to understand and embrace that fact
while recognizing that we all share a singular mission and focus as One McKendree.”
President Dobbins’ own McKendree experience has spanned 40 years, during which time
he has been a student, athlete, alumni volunteer, Alumni Board member and president,
Board of Trustees member and chair, and now, president. “A native of the small farming
community of Pittsfield, Ill., he transferred to McKendree during his junior year
of college to study business administration and accounting and play basketball for Coach Harry Statham. He met his wife Michaelene “Mickey” Macaluso ’81 when they were students on campus; they were married the same year they graduated.
While Mickey took a job in McKendree’s Office of Admission, President Dobbins became
a Certified Public Accountant and earned his MBA from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
before assuming leadership positions in various commercial industries. He has served
as a controller, CFO, and president in manufacturing organizations ranging from air
filtration, upholstered furniture, wire and cable harnesses, and industrial textiles.
As his business career grew and changed, however, President Dobbins’ relationship
with McKendree remained constant. He felt compelled to give back to the University
that was so instrumental to the creation of his family and professional success. “My
deep commitment to serving McKendree began not long after graduation,” he said. “I
committed early on to repay the scholarships the school provided me, so others could
have the same opportunities I was afforded. In the beginning, that was more about
giving time, versus talent and treasure.”
Volunteering on the Alumni Board, he soon was elected to lead the group and by proxy,
became a member of the Board of Trustees. He proudly served on this governing body
for 32 years and chaired it from 2007 to 2015. Current Alumni Board President Ryan Furniss ’00 put it best when he said, “Dan is proof that completing your degree is not the end
of your relationship with McKendree, but the beginning of something new.” Through
the years, President Dobbins’ love for McKendree grew into a commitment to serving
the students, faculty, staff, and alumni who came to mean so much to him.
The foundation of servant leadership he cultivated through his volunteerism not only
influenced his path in life, but also shaped him into the kind of leader McKendree
would require. At the Founders Day Chapel Service, University Chaplain Rev. Tim Harrison
described McKendree’s long history of leaders and visionaries who modeled what it
meant to serve others first and foremost. “Each day I walk in the Chapel hallway,
I walk by a group of about 20 McKendree College stalwarts who were here from 1941-45,”
he said. “Without their labor of love and servant leadership, many believe McKendree
would not be here today. Their commitment got McKendree through one of the hardest
times of its history. They understood the bigger picture and mission of the institution
because they had witnessed the impact it had in transforming students’ lives, and
they believed McKendree’s mission wasn’t complete.”
He went on to list the ways President Dobbins has already demonstrated this servant
leadership in the past year alone, from his invitation to town hall meetings and presidential
leadership council meetings to his collaboration with student government, the Social
Justice and Equity Committee, and efforts to listen to the community. President Dobbins’
emphasis on including the voices of others in his mission to lead the campus proves
that his calling to leadership is, as Rev. Harrison said, a humble one that is not
personal, but rather communal.
Both the Founders Day Presidential Installation Ceremony and the Chapel Service included
symbols that reflect the McKendree values of servant leadership, tradition and a rich
heritage. In addition to the presidential medallion and mace signifying the authority
to lead the University, President Dobbins was presented with a bell, the McKendree
Charter, an academic book, and a basin and towel. The bell symbolizes the importance
of continuing McKendree traditions and reflects the constancy of Bothwell Chapel’s
bell, as well as the reverberating effect of McKendree alumni throughout the world.
The University Charter serves as a reminder of the original vision and determination
of the pioneers who founded McKendree.
Representing a focus on student learning, the academic book marks the overarching
purpose of the institution to provide the best quality education for students. Finally,
the basin and towel symbolize those servant qualities that the University values so
highly in its leaders.
President Dobbins plans to lead the University with a strong foundation focused on
serving all members of the McKendree family. During his inauguration speech, he addressed
each group of University stakeholders individually, pledging to serve them in specific
ways. From students, faculty, and staff to alumni, Board members, and friends of the
University, his recognition of each group signified the importance we all play as
part of the McKendree community and reiterated his One McKendree message. Moreover,
President Dobbins has already begun challenging and inspiring others to contribute
their own unique efforts to make McKendree the best it can be. For Student Government
President Shelby Benn ’21, that call to action happened early on. “During President Dobbins’ first year, I
had the privilege of working on many projects to help students love McKendree a little
bit more,” Shelby said. “In the first meeting I had with him, he challenged me to
help make McKendree an even better place for all students. Not many people give you
a challenge during the first meeting!”
"Mickey and I are not distant people, and, like most, we have not enjoyed being socially
distanced from our McKendree family,” he said. “We look forward to welcoming and connecting
with all. I plan to be a visible and active leader.” When asked how each of us can
make a difference in serving one another and contributing to his vision of One McKendree,
he says, “Come back to campus. Renew and relive your McKendree experience. After that,
engage in and support our mission, vision, and dreams. We are all stewards of this
great institution."
We wish you could have been there!
Out of necessity, President Dobbins gave his address to a lot of empty seats, but
we made sure to keep the cameras rolling! Head over to our website, where you can
find a collection of videos that capture the historical events of our 2021 Founders’
Day celebration and Presidential Inauguration.
