Evan S. Dobelle

Evan S. Dobelle, ca. 1995. Photo credit: Trinity College Archives

On December 10, 1995, Evan S. Dobelle was chosen by Trinity's Board of Trustees to be the College's next president after a nine-month nationwide search. Dobelle was then inaugurated as Trinity's 18th president on October 1, 1996, and served the College until 2001. During his tenure as president, he implemented many programs to connect the community and the College, the most notable being the Learning Corridor Initiative. He intended to make Trinity a place where students could receive an “incomparable liberal arts education while still being able to take advantage of the opportunities present in an urban city such as Hartford.”

Dobelle received his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in Educational Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, as well as a master's in Public Administration from Harvard University. Before coming to Trinity, Dobelle had a robust political career. He served as the executive assistant for U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (1971-73), United States Chief of Protocol (1977-79), chief financial officer and treasurer for the Democratic National Committee and national finance chairman for the Democratic Party and President Jimmy Carter (1979-81), President of Middlesex Community College (1987-90), and President and Chancellor of the City College of San Francisco (1990-95).

During Dobelle's presidency, the College underwent some noteworthy changes, including improving its public image, which lead to an increase in applicants and attendance. This contributed greatly to Trinity's fundraising efforts, eventually raising millions for the College. The influx of funds allowed for the construction of the Learning Corridor, a $200 million project to improve Trinity's relationship with the Hartford community. These initiatives, led by Dobelle, helped to revamp Trinity's reputation not only in Hartford but across the nation, and the College was able to reclaim its title as one of the best small liberal arts colleges in the U.S.

In 2001, Dobelle announced his departure from Trinity as he accepted an offer to be President of the University of Hawaii. In his short term as president, Dobelle helped to transform Trinity from a struggling regional liberal arts college to a place of learning and diversity with a focus on the importance of connecting with the community beyond the bounds of Trinity.