Ceremony designates David M. Dooley URI Science Quadrangle
URI Science Quad naming ceremony recognizes and dedicates former URI President David Dooley. PHOTO CREDIT: Bryan Kuklo
The field in between Avedisian Hall, the Coastal Institute and the Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences is now officially the David M. Dooley URI Science Quadrangle.
David Dooley served as the President of the University of Rhode Island from 2009 through July of this year, until current president Marc Parlange started his tenure as president of the University in August.
Outside of Avedisian Hall on Friday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. an event was held to dedicate the space to Dooley. He and his wife Lynn now split their time between their native Montana and a new home in Tucson, Arizona, and both returned to URI for the event. People who worked closely with the former president spoke about his accomplishments and time spent at URI.
Parlange said that under Dooley’s tenure, the University emphasized accessibility and funding for new research, which he said have helped him in his new role.
“You have no idea how I continually hear every day about your many wonderful accomplishments and all the good work that you have done for the University and for the state of Rhode Island,” Parlange told Dooley.
Parlange noted that he and Dooley’s entrances to the University were under very different circumstances. He said that he one day hopes to accumulate the accolades that Dooley has at URI. Parlange thanked Dooley for his continued help as he continues to adjust to the presidential role.
Laura Beauvais, URI’s interim provost, said that what she enjoyed most about working with Dooley was his willingness to get behind new ideas, provided that they were well-researched.
“It was refreshing to know that when you do your homework with Dave, and you answer his questions and you’ve done your analysis, he was very supportive of new ideas,” Beauvais said.
One of the initiatives she discussed with Dooley while she was a professor was online classes, which allowed the University to be better prepared for moving into online classes when the COVID-19 pandemic sent students home.
The event was emceed by outgoing provost Donald DeHayes, who said that Dooley always brought a “scientist’s perspective” to his role as president. He said that this is the reason the naming the Science Quad after him made sense.
DeHayes also mentioned that the University is planning on building a new Life Sciences building on Flagg Road, which would enclose the Science Quad.
Dooley was the last to speak at the event. He said that he valued accuracy more than anything, and a lot of the accomplishments that were chalked up to him happened because of those he worked with.
“All of the things [that were] mentioned indeed happened while I was president of the University of Rhode Island, but most of the people who made them happen are sitting out here,” Dooley said. “I didn’t do that work. I just had the pleasure and the honor to be part of a community that did that work.”
Additionally, he thanked the URI community, who he said were “in the trenches” to help make URI a better place.
Dooley finished his speech by wishing Parlange well as he continues work left by the Dooley administration and starts new projects of his own.
“I hope that when you finish your work, we’ll be able to stand in the same sort of position that I’m able to stand in today and just be immensely grateful for the opportunity to work with people like all of you,” Dooley said.