Life and achievements of Winston Doby celebrated at Royce Hall
By Cynthia Lee
January 23, 2012
Nearly 900 people, led by Chancellor Gene Block, braved intermittent rain this afternoon to celebrate the life of Winston Doby, a legendary champion of student diversity and access whose 40-plus years in university service left an indelible impact on UCLA, the University of California and generations of students.
Doby died Nov. 10 in Los Angeles at age 71 of cancer. Monday's gathering was in Royce Hall.
Among those taking turns at the podium to speak about Doby were Block, Chancellor Emeritus Charles Young, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the presidents of the California Community Foundation and the Los Angeles Urban League, and the chair of the UCLA Black Alumni Association. Dean Aimee Dorr of the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, former dean Claudia Mitchell-Kernan of the graduate division at UCLA and former student body president Jasmine Hill also spoke to the assembed family, friends and colleagues.
"This program should take several days and include literally hundreds of people to barely start to cover accurately his impact and his legacy," said Janina Montero, vice chancellor of student affairs, during her tribute to her friend and colleague. Others spoke of Doby's devotion to students and young people, his focused dedication to educational equity and his success at helping students overcome barriers to success in college.
"His greatest contribution may have been his impact on UCLA's leadership in diversity, which could not have happened without his tireless efforts and his ability to make a case for access without polarizing polemics," Block said. Doby's greatest gift was his ability to motivate people to follow "the better angels of our nature," the chancellor added.
Two years after Doby, a UCLA alumnus, started his career on campus as an assistant track coach, he became director of special education programs and established UCLA's respected Academic Advancement Program (AAP). More than 40 years after its founding, AAP is emulated by other campuses as a national model for providing support to college students from historically underserved populations.
"He believed deeply that those who were disadvantaged — through no fault of their own — deserved extra attention and support ... and that by extending a helping hand, everyone benefits," said Block. "For Winston, the underdog was always top-of-mind."
When he was UCLA's vice chancellor for student affairs, Doby was a prominent leader on campus and also chaired high-level task forces that helped revamp UC system-wide policies and practices in admissions, outreach, student services and student financial support.
In the wider community outside of Westwood, Doby worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District, community organizations and area leaders to promote academic achievement. When he eventually left UCLA, he joined the university Office of the President as vice president for educational outreach and, later, student affairs.
Even after he retired as UCLA's longest-serving vice chancellor, Doby continued to serve the campus after African American student enrollment declined in 2006. He skillfully brought a coalition of African American leaders together behind the goal of recruiting more black students and reenergizing the campus's community links.
Young recalled rocky years when student diversity was being challenged at the ballot box. "There was no more constant, committed, sane, reasonable voice for all of us during that period of time than Winston Doby's, the chancellor emeritus said. "Winston worked hard to make UCLA a diverse campus, an open campus to all who could benefit from it ... One of the things Winston and I and our colleagues understood was that you couldn't be a great university in this day and age unless you were diverse."
To conclude his remarks, Young sang an old Presbyterian hymn in honor of Doby's own Presbyterian roots.
Montero spoke movingly about how Doby changed the lives of countless young people for the better. "It is a fact that, directly and indirectly, Winston has had a profound impact in the lives of thousands of students. Literally thousands of men and women today have careers, futures, community presence and have a concrete positive influence as citizens and leaders because of him.
In an interview several years ago, Block recalled, Doby summed up how he wanted to be remembered:
"I hope that when people think of me," Doby said, "they will remember me as the one who remained committed to the campus's quest for greatness and committed to ensuring that this quest for greatness included a commitment to equity and justice."
Doby died Nov. 10 in Los Angeles at age 71 of cancer. Monday's gathering was in Royce Hall.
Among those taking turns at the podium to speak about Doby were Block, Chancellor Emeritus Charles Young, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the presidents of the California Community Foundation and the Los Angeles Urban League, and the chair of the UCLA Black Alumni Association. Dean Aimee Dorr of the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, former dean Claudia Mitchell-Kernan of the graduate division at UCLA and former student body president Jasmine Hill also spoke to the assembed family, friends and colleagues.
"This program should take several days and include literally hundreds of people to barely start to cover accurately his impact and his legacy," said Janina Montero, vice chancellor of student affairs, during her tribute to her friend and colleague. Others spoke of Doby's devotion to students and young people, his focused dedication to educational equity and his success at helping students overcome barriers to success in college.
"His greatest contribution may have been his impact on UCLA's leadership in diversity, which could not have happened without his tireless efforts and his ability to make a case for access without polarizing polemics," Block said. Doby's greatest gift was his ability to motivate people to follow "the better angels of our nature," the chancellor added.
Two years after Doby, a UCLA alumnus, started his career on campus as an assistant track coach, he became director of special education programs and established UCLA's respected Academic Advancement Program (AAP). More than 40 years after its founding, AAP is emulated by other campuses as a national model for providing support to college students from historically underserved populations.
"He believed deeply that those who were disadvantaged — through no fault of their own — deserved extra attention and support ... and that by extending a helping hand, everyone benefits," said Block. "For Winston, the underdog was always top-of-mind."
When he was UCLA's vice chancellor for student affairs, Doby was a prominent leader on campus and also chaired high-level task forces that helped revamp UC system-wide policies and practices in admissions, outreach, student services and student financial support.
In the wider community outside of Westwood, Doby worked with the Los Angeles Unified School District, community organizations and area leaders to promote academic achievement. When he eventually left UCLA, he joined the university Office of the President as vice president for educational outreach and, later, student affairs.
Even after he retired as UCLA's longest-serving vice chancellor, Doby continued to serve the campus after African American student enrollment declined in 2006. He skillfully brought a coalition of African American leaders together behind the goal of recruiting more black students and reenergizing the campus's community links.
Young recalled rocky years when student diversity was being challenged at the ballot box. "There was no more constant, committed, sane, reasonable voice for all of us during that period of time than Winston Doby's, the chancellor emeritus said. "Winston worked hard to make UCLA a diverse campus, an open campus to all who could benefit from it ... One of the things Winston and I and our colleagues understood was that you couldn't be a great university in this day and age unless you were diverse."
To conclude his remarks, Young sang an old Presbyterian hymn in honor of Doby's own Presbyterian roots.
Montero spoke movingly about how Doby changed the lives of countless young people for the better. "It is a fact that, directly and indirectly, Winston has had a profound impact in the lives of thousands of students. Literally thousands of men and women today have careers, futures, community presence and have a concrete positive influence as citizens and leaders because of him.
In an interview several years ago, Block recalled, Doby summed up how he wanted to be remembered:
"I hope that when people think of me," Doby said, "they will remember me as the one who remained committed to the campus's quest for greatness and committed to ensuring that this quest for greatness included a commitment to equity and justice."