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John, we’re so glad we know ye |
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Dr. John Davitt is an administrator who has continually displayed integrity, principle, compassion, and strength in his leadership, and has significantly contributed to his colleagues, his profession, his college, and his community. As such, I can think of no other administrator in the California community college system more dedicated to his faculty and staff, to his students, and to his community. In my 36 years of teaching, I have never worked with an administrator who had more integrity than Dr. John Davitt. He lives by a consistent set of moral standards that guide his everyday personal and professional actions. These standards include honesty, deep personal and professional respect for every individual in our campus community, and the ability to make informed decisions that are ultimately the best for our entire campus. His integrity is manifest through his unwavering support for shared governance on our campus; more often than not, he makes decisions only after all campus constituencies have had their input. His support for shared governance goes so far as to contribute funds to support the Academic Senate with a full-time administrative assistant, to pay for Senate travel to leadership conferences and plenary sessions, and to help support the Chaparral, our governance newsletter. Not only is Dr. Davitt a man of deep integrity, but he is also a man of deep principle. He relies on the perfect blend of moral and professional principle to guide his everyday judgment. His decisions, while primarily based on governance input, professional standards, and state education code, nonetheless always consider moral and personal consequences. That is, he is a man of courage–a man with the conviction to “follow his heart” when a decision based on the former criteria does not “feel right.” John Davitt’s huge heart makes him by far the most compassionate administrator I have ever met. His door is always open to faculty and staff to discuss personal as well as professional matters. He seems to know everyone on campus, and genuinely cares about each one of us. We can always drop in to discuss pedagogy, politics, and personal issues. He listens intently, and always offers sound advice. Because of his adherence to professional standards and his compassion, Dr. Davitt has created a learning environment for students that includes the hiring of a first-rate faculty, development of the largest student support program in the state, and the securing of over $200 million (including a $98 million local bond) for renovation and construction. No campus has faced greater challenges than we have; we are landlocked on a 59–acre hillside. Through Dr. Davitt’s leadership and charisma, more than ten new buildings have been constructed or remodeled during his tenure, with new buildings in the planning or beginning stages. During his stay at Glendale College, more than 300,000 students have passed through our institution. These students represent every ethnic group, ages from 15 to 95, with many different educational goals. They also represent international students from more than 50 countries. As with faculty and staff, John’s door has always been open to students to discuss personal and academic issues. He has helped students find resources to continue their education, and has mentored both underachieving and outstanding students. GCC graduate Arthur Khachatourian says, “Dr. Davitt has been a lifelong, fatherly mentor and a key factor in my academic and professional achievements. He’s the best.” According to former Glendale mayor Frank Quintero, “John Davitt is a dedicated educator and administrator, and the city of Glendale is proud to have GCC within its boundaries. Under John’s direction the college has grown to meet the diverse and ever-changing needs of this community. He has kept higher education and career education at a high level.” There is no greater evidence of Dr. John Davitt’s dedication to promoting community well being than his 22-year presidency of Glendale Community College. Currently he is the longest-seated community college president in the state, and possibly even the nation; while the typical college president’s term is relatively brief, our campus and civic community have always rejoiced that John Davitt is our president. Our campus serves a diverse population of over 25,000. During John’s leadership the community of Glendale and the college have experienced one of the most significant population shifts in the nation—and John has led us to adjust to that shift. Also, John Davitt has served on almost every board in the greater community, including Rotary, Chamber, Guidance Clinic, Developmental Council, Child Care Council, Intergovernmental Relations Committee, Glendale Partners, Glendale Symphony, Crestview Preparatory School, Archdiocese of Los Angeles School Board, Holy Family Girls High School, St. Bede’s Pastoral Council, and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. In addition, John delivers food every week and volunteers at the Good Shepherd Center for Abused Families. John Davitt is a one-of-a-kind superintendent/president who will be deeply missed when he retires this June. The Academic Senate of Glendale College thanks him for his dedicated years of collegial service. John, we’re so glad we know ye. We certainly will never forget you; your legacy lives on at GCC. & |
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