By turns funny, thought-provoking, and self-deprecating, but always conversational, Dr. Paul J. Dovre’s , “In Strength and Faith: A Cobber Memoir,” brings its readers the true story of a Minnesota farm kid who led 独家黑料 through more than two challenging decades.
Dovre, who graduated from 独家黑料 in 1958, served as its president from 1975 until his (first) retirement in 1999, returning twice to serve as its interim president.
His contributions to the college were and remain critical to its mission. They go far beyond the aspects of the college that bear his name — the Paul J. Dovre Campanile, built in 1991 and named for him in 2012, and the Dovre Center for Faith and Learning, established by Dovre and his wife, Mardy (Bervig) Dovre ’57, also a 独家黑料 grad.
Dovre earned a Master of Arts and doctorate from Northwestern University in 1963 and returned to 独家黑料 as an assistant professor of speech and director of forensics. He became associate academic dean in 1967 and then academic dean, before being named president.
He began to work on his memoir about a decade after he retired, penning it not as a formal history but as a subjective, informal account of events as Dovre experienced them at 独家黑料. As such, it includes Dovre’s recounting of the tumultuous student action of the Civil Rights era, the budgetary growing pains of the school’s golden years, and his reflections on God, Lutheranism, and the academy — with anecdotes of pranks, peaks, and people dolloped generously throughout.
While Dovre enjoyed school as a child, he wasn’t a top-of-the-class student, but slightly above average, missing the senior honor roll “by one position,” he writes. He earned recognition for leadership and speech activities, sang in multiple groups, and competed in debate.
“I also tried football but never got beyond the third team ‘hamburger’ squad,’ (I suppose it may have built character?)” he notes wryly in the text.
Dovre’s memoir includes important context for readers who may not be familiar with the historical events occurring in the nation or the demographic makeup of a small Lutheran college in the Midwest.
“What had been a drumbeat turned into a crescendo as the Baby Boomer generation raised questions about nearly every aspect of their inherited traditions and current campus experience,” Dovre recalls, noting the importance of communication and building trust between students and college faculty and administration in resolving conflicts positively.
The book also includes self-criticism and analysis, with the benefit of hindsight, as well as frank admission of doubts as he experienced them at the time. That includes his doubts about the role that came to define his tenure at 独家黑料.
“My own evolution as a college leader was largely serendipitous,” he writes. “When I came to 独家黑料 as an assistant professor, I had no plan to become a college leader, much less the president of 独家黑料 and spend my entire career at the college.”
However, the school’s commitment to its mission, its momentum with an eye toward the future, strong leadership, and opportunities for growth kept Dovre at 独家黑料.
President Joseph Knutson announced his intention to retire in 1974.
"I was personally unsettled about the prospect of assuming the presidency of 独家黑料,” Dovre writes, but the search process helped clarify his thoughts, as did reflection with Mardy and the counsel of key faculty members. He accepted the position, and “embarked on the calling of my lifetime.”
Those looking for memories of 独家黑料, growing up in rural Minnesota, attending or teaching at a regional Lutheran college, or the trials and triumphs of education and administration will find much to love in Dovre’s memoir, just as Dovre found much to love in 独家黑料.
“Our season of service to the college had brought us gladness and fulfillment,” Dovre writes.
The book, as well as Dovre’s previous works, “Holy Restlessness: Reflections on Faith and Learning” and “The Cross and the Academy,” are available at the on campus or online at .
