Remembering Professor Pat Dobel

It is difficult to contemplate Pat’s passing. He was my close friend and Evans School faculty colleague for 40 years. He and Lea came to UW in 1984, I believe, just a year before I joined the faculty. We were about the same age and so our kids were also of similar ages and we exchanged parenting stories and suggestions, with appropriate good humor. Faculty-wise, I think I had an easier transition for I came from a professional school background in public policy and was used to academic quarters while he was a political scientist (a political theorist no less) and accustomed to semester-long courses, mostly teaching undergraduates. He seemed to adjust to Evans students’ and course needs remarkably quickly and I think this helped him later to mentor other new faculty needing to make similar transitions. Indeed, one of Pat’s great skills was as a mentor to others whether students, other faculty or would-be academic administrators. He also mentored athletic coaches in his long-time role as UW’s Faculty Athletic Representative, which he took very seriously. At the Evans School, Pat’s scholarly interests turned early on to public organizational leadership and particularly the role of ethics in this realm. Pat produced a wealth of influential scholarship on ethical public leadership and related topics and was highly respected and sought after nationally as a result of his unusually deep, thoughtful work. We were fortunate to keep him here for the rest of his academic career. Pat served for several years as Associate Dean of the School (when there was only one such position) and he was a wonderful exemplar in this challenging role. I looked up to him and sought his advice often when I later served in the same position. In addition to his University work, Pat was well respected in the local professional community and served (and even led) various local boards and commissions including the King County Ethics Board. Yet, most of all Pat was a gifted and inspiring teacher. He loved teaching and brought inspiration and innovation to his classes as well as deep knowledge and broad perspective. I often heard from students that his courses were the ones that they felt influenced them the most and would be most useful in their subsequent careers and lives. He was a key figure in the conceptualization and implementation of our core MPA courses in public management and similarly played a major role in the design of the initial Executive MPA curriculum. He directed the Executive MPA program for several years in its early days. In short, Pat did about all there was to do in a faculty career at the Evans School and he did it all in an exemplary way that all could look up to and draw inspiration from. He will be sorely missed by his many friends, colleagues and students at UW and around the country but his intellectual and personal legacy will live on.

-William Zumeta, Professor Emeritus

Pat was a brilliant mentor and a wonderful friend. He provided generous feedback and support for my research, and I borrowed countless teaching ideas, learning materials, classroom exercises, and even turns of phrase from him over the years. Perhaps the most fun we had together was creating “curriculum on demand,” as he called it, to build or revamp courses – and even much of the Evans School’s EMPA program at one point. He embodied ethical strategy – working toward institutional and programmatic goals with integrity and principle, “taking it seriously while holding it lightly” (in his words). I miss him already.

-Stephen Page, Associate Professor

I was deeply saddened to hear of Pat’s passing, indeed the very same day that three of us from the Evans School evening leadership degree class of ’02 had met for lunch on the Ave and Pat’s name and influence surfaced, knowing he was ill.

One of my recollections over lunch was that I kept a running list during class of special turn of phrases Pat used in his lucid and incisive lectures. His verbal dexterity was matched by his commitment to the values that formed these lessons: honesty, transparency, and keeping the courage of your convictions.

Years later when we were working together, Pat and I had an opportunity to travel with a team from the UW to Ethiopia, where seeking out delicious coffee became sport (Seattle may brew good beans, but traveling to the source exposed me to the most delicious coffee imaginable). In Pat I found a colleague who laughed as loud as I did, mouths agape and heads tipped back, as if we could swallow the world whole.

– Anita Verna Crofts, MPA ’02

When I think about Pat I think of his:

• Abiding love for his family
• Extraordinary, inspirational teaching
• Wise advice on administrative issues and problems
• Intense engagement with ideas about leadership, ethics, public management, and policy. The broad intellectual net he cast to better understand how to manage and lead for the public good
• Eloquence
• Valuable service to the Evans School and the UW that made a difference
• Enthusiasm about sports and how he melded it with his academic life both as a scholar and as Faculty Athletic Representative
• Invaluable contributions to the Population Leadership Program
• True friendship and support when dealing with health and life challenges
• Exploring Hanoi, Mexico City and Ethiopia together

-Robert Plotnick, Professor Emeritus

My heart goes out to Pat’s family and friends. He was a light and inspiration for so many students and faculty finding their path at Evans and UW. His intellect and generosity of spirit continues to echo throughout our community. I reflect often on our conversations about leadership and ethics over the years, which have profoundly shaped my own path. I am forever grateful. Peace.

-Scott Allard, Daniel J. Evans Endowed Professor of Social Policy

What I remember most about Professor Dobel is his kindness and thoughtfulness towards as a very young student. I started Evans right out of undergraduate and talked to him about navigating graduate school. He was always willing to answer my rather naive questions with kindness. I am so sorry to hear about his passing and am grateful to have had his support during that time.

-Cheree Peterson, MPA ’94

Pat was one of the first faculty members I got to meet at the Evans School. His smile, engagement and curiosity, and down-to-earth approach was simply so genuine and endearing. In conversation he easily traveled from big philosophical ideas to family stories that were touching and personal. It made him so approachable. On that latter note, Pat told an anecdote about collecting a jar of beach glass with his daughter and how it was a collection of little moments of time that he treasured. Afterwards, I started my own collection from family beach walks. It was such a poignant way to capture memories and remember what’s important in life. You will be missed, Pat, but your gifts are carried forward!

-Sara Curran, Director Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology

While not a faculty member, I was part of the Evans School Evening Degree Program from 1999-2002. Pat Dobel’s teachings about ethics and moral courage resonated with me, but especially served to guide me during a combat deployment to Iraq in 2009-2010. My battalion commander exemplified someone whose moral compass permanently pointed south. His actions and frequent falsehoods caused our unit morale to hit rock bottom, and even led to his executive officer to end his own life. As a middle-aged reservist, when I had the opportunity to speak out privately to this commander about the effect his actions were having on my fellow soldiers, I drew upon Pat Dobel’s lessons to steel my resolve and speak truth to power. While the commander brought me in front of his senior staff to repeat my concerns, he took the opportunity to belittle my observations, and also reprimanded my chain of command for letting me confront him. But after this public “flogging”, a number of battalion staff officers privately thanked me for taking a stand which they agreed with, but didn’t want to say out loud for fear of damaging their careers. This was just one of the many times when my Evans School education helped keep me on the right path, but Pat Dobel’s wisdom will stay with me for the rest of my life.

-Dave Hall, MPA ’02

As a new faculty member, Pat was so friendly and welcoming. We had neighboring offices when I first arrived at the Evans School, and his booming, enthusiastic voice always made me smile. He truly cared about the wellbeing of those around him and was never too busy to make a connection. He will be missed.

-Rachel Fyall, Associate Professor

I was so deeply saddened to hear the news of Pat Dobel’s passing. 

We partnered together for his Integrity Leading class in the EXMPA nearly a decade ago and I remember fondly our meetings for coffee to plan and co-conspire.  I was so inspired by his infectious curiosity, his love of leadership and learning (and science fiction!), and the deep commitment he made to the flourishing of his students.  And I recall him being so tickled when Routledge accepted his book “Value Driven Leading: A Management Approach.”  He shared it was a nice gift and nice way to move into retirement.  I am sending care to his family and community. And to all the students he met and impacted along the way.

-Michelle Gislason, Distinguished Professor

Pat had such a wide and deep impact on so many people at the Evans School and around UW – our MPA and EMPA students, athletes, coaches, university administrators. I will always remember and cherish the passion with which Pat approached all this projects, rather it be writing, teaching, or just providing support for colleagues. Pat was the Associate Dean when I began my career at the Evans School – he played a huge role in helping me to see that I could do many things that I didn’t feel capable of doing. And he was always my biggest cheerleader. Over the years he provided me, and so many others, with impassioned advice, counsel and support. He cared so much about the people around him and the work they were engaged with. And he cared so much for and was so proud of his family. His love and pride in them was such an important part of his life. As I begin to think about the end of my own career, I find myself thinking consistently of his work on legacy and what it means for all of us. I’ll miss him deeply but feel he is woven into the fabric of our institution in so many ways. He’ll always be with us.

-Mary Kay Gugerty, Nancy Bell Evans Professor of Nonprofit Management & Philanthropy

Pat was a light among us, someone with a gift for seeing and understanding the bigger moral picture of the work of public service with clarity and practicality, who was willing to spend his life writing and teaching about how to make ethical public service a reality. We are forever fortunate that so many of his years were here with us. He inspired a generation of public servants here and around the world. He lives on in their work and in the many indelible marks he left on the culture and commitments of the Evans School.

-Steve Kosack, Associate Professor 

It’s hard to put into words the presence that Pat had at Evans, and the impact he had on me personally. From the moment I arrived, he was an incredible mentor. I knew he was looking out for me, and he helped me to find a sense of belonging in my earliest days searching for footing as a young (and often confused) assistant professor. Over the years, he remained a trusted colleague and friend – including many happy coffee and lunch meetings after his retirement. I can still hear the ring of his incredible laugh. And I very fondly remember his delight and encouragement as I navigated huge life milestones: My White House fellowship in Washington, DC, earning tenure, and the birth of my triplets. Last summer, I was awarded an endowed professorship in acknowledgement of my public service. It is an even more significant honor to be reminded that Pat held the same endowment. His legacy lives on at Evans – I was so fortunate to benefit from his wisdom and kindness and am privileged to do my small part to make sure his values live on at the Evans School and more broadly.

-Crystal Hall, John and Marguerite Walker Corbally Professor in Public Service

I was very fortunate to know Pat Dobel for almost 30 years. I initially met Pat in 1996 when I started a faculty position at the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. Pat exemplified the highest standards and ideals of an engaged professor: he was a superb teacher; a ground-breaking academic for his work on public integrity and ethics; and a terrific mentor for students and faculty colleagues at the Evans School and elsewhere. He was also an inspirational institutional builder who greatly contributed to the development of the Evans school into one of the top-ranked schools of public affairs. He loved sports and served with distinction as the Faculty Athletic Representative for the University of Washington for many years. He was also a loyal and generous friend and very devoted to his wonderful family. I will long remember his thoughtful and supportive guidance and friendship in the years ahead.

-Professor Steven Rathgeb Smith, Evans School Faculty (1996-2011)