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Arlo Guthrie
Arlo Guthrie to perform at Westfield State investiture of President Dobelle


Two traditional college events, Family Day and Senior Convocation, will be combined with the Presidential Investiture of Evan S. Dobelle as the 19th president of Westfield State College on Saturday, Sept. 27, in the Woodward Center. Ceremonies will include a performance by songwriter and musician Arlo Guthrie.

The Convocation and Investiture are scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guthrie’s performance is part of The Westfield State College Foundation Speaker Series, which is free and open to the public. A reception at 1 p.m. will follow the ceremonies and concert.

Guthrie, eldest son of singer Woody Guthrie, became an icon of the 1960s after the release of the movie, Alice’s Restaurant, featuring his title song. Guthrie will receive an honorary Doctor of Music degree.

Three guest speakers at the Investiture also will receive honorary degrees. They are John Brademas, president emeritus of New York University and a congressman from Indiana for 22 years; Peter Gomes, Baptist minister at The Memorial Church/Harvard and a member of Harvard University faculty; and State Sen. Joan M. Menard (D-Fall River), chair of the New England Board of Higher Education.

Brademas will receive a Doctor of Laws degree. Gomes will receive a Doctor of Humanities degree and Menard will receive a Doctor of Public Service degree.

“I am very grateful that Arlo Guthrie, John Brademas, Peter Gomes and Sen. Menard are able to join us, not only for the investiture, but for a day that celebrates our students and their families, as well,” Dobelle said. “I have greatly enjoyed becoming part of both the college and Westfield communities and look forward to more exciting improvements and partnerships in the months ahead.”

Family Day events for families of students include brunch in the Dining Commons, and several student-run games and activities for family members of all ages, and entertainment in the Ely Campus Center.

The day also includes two sports events. The Owls football team will play the U.S. Coast Guard Academy at 1:30 p.m. on Alumni Field. The Owls field hockey team will face the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, at 6:30 p.m.

Guthrie has continued as a force in both music and charitable works. Over the last four decades, he has toured throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. In addition to his accomplishments as a musician, playing the piano, six and twelve-string guitar, harmonica and a dozen other instruments, Guthrie is a natural-born storyteller, whose tales and anecdotes figure prominently in his performances.

In 1991 Guthrie purchased the old Trinity Church in Great Barrington, where he established The Guthrie Center. Named for his parents, center is a not-for-profit interfaith church foundation dedicated to providing a wide range of local and international services. The Guthrie Foundation is a separate not-for-profit educational organization that addresses issues such as the environment, health care, cultural preservation and educational exchange.

Dobelle began his new position at Westfield State in January. The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education unanimously approved Dobelle as president, after the college selected him from an initial pool of 140 applicants. He was previously president and CEO of the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE).

Dobelle previously served as president of Middlesex Community College in Massachusetts, City College of San Francisco, Trinity College in Hartford and the University of Hawaii system. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, as well as his MPA from Harvard.

Before his career in education, Dobelle was mayor of Pittsfield from 1973 to 1976. He was also treasurer and deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee and national chairman of the Carter-Mondale Presidential Exploratory Committee.

He was chief of protocol of the United States with the rank of ambassador in the late 70s. His state political career also included serving as commissioner of Environmental Management and Natural Resources and executive assistant to the former U.S. Sen. Edward W. Brooke (R-Massachusetts).

Dobelle has received numerous honors for his leadership in education. Most recently, he was among nine educators to receive the first annual Award of Distinction from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, School of Education. The award was part of the School of Education Centennial Marathon in June.



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