MELBOURNE — He grew up in the Ozarks and always knew he would return.
After his adventures as a naval aviator, Richard Dawe, Ph.D., did return in July 2009, as president of Ozarka College in Melbourne.
As a pilot of an EA-6B Prowler, and with more than 800 carrier landings under his wings, Dawe retired as a captain after 24 years in the Navy.
“Navy aviation proved to be exciting and challenging,” Dawe said. “I grew up in an aviation family.”
Not only did he grow up in an aviation family, but basketball is a big part of his family history as well. His great-grandfather James Naismith invented the game of basketball in 1891.
“We have, what is reported by the family, the original rim, which is a step up from the peach basket,” Dawe said.
Although Dawe didn’t play basketball, he is proud of his family heritage. But it is his community college background that drives him to help the students at Ozarka to obtain their educations.
“I always knew I wanted to continue my education,” Dawe said. “Community colleges served me and my wife and kids very well.”
With a program similar to what Ozarka is implementing, Dawe earned his bachelor’s degree through a community college.
Ozarka students could begin working on their four-year graduate degrees as early as next semester, Dawe said. The college, in collaboration with several four-year universities, will bring in teachers for weekend and evening classes so students can get their degrees without having to move, commute or transfer to another college.
Dawe did continue his education and earned his master’s degree in finance from Naval Postgraduate School and his doctorate from St. Louis University. While he was active-duty Navy, he also worked as a chief financial officer for the U.S. government, and he said he was in charge of a $9.4 billion annual budget.
He also taught classes, and as a former finance teacher, Dawe believes teaching is a way to stay grounded and connected to the students. He also said he would consider teaching a class or two here and there.
His vision for Ozarka is to take the educational needs to the students instead of the students having to fill those needs elsewhere. Ozarka is a small rural, multisited community college with campuses in Izard, Stone, Sharp and now Fulton counties.
“The service culture to the students is what drew me to Ozarka,” Dawe said. “Two things that drew me most and the reason I want to stay in the community are the small-hometown values in all the community we serve and the phenomenal community support. Our goal is to provide a life-changing experience through education.”
With a new site in Mammoth Spring, the college had 54 students enroll in the first semester of night classes. A permanent facility is planned to open next semester.
“It’ll be a good economic move for our community, and it will [allow] people to get their degrees without having to move to do it,” Mammoth Spring Mayor Jean Pace said. “I’m very impressed with [Dawe] and his vision about where we want Ozarka to be. He helps with everything; he’s very hands on.”
As Dawe prepared to leave for a meeting with Pace in Mammoth Spring, he was asked how long it took to get there from Melbourne, and he responded with a chuckle, “about 12 minutes by air.”
He and his wife Chris have been married for 32 years. She also got her pilot’s license while they were living in Japan during a six-month carrier deployment. With both of the Dawes being pilots, they take every opportunity to fly places instead of drive.
In addition to his responsibilities as president of a college, Dawe is also president of the John E. Miller Field Airport Commission in Melbourne and also serves on the Workforce Investment Board and the Arkansas Health Education Center Board.
“Ozarka College has a long-standing reputation of keeping students as priority,” said Kim Whitten, Ozarka’s public relations specialist. “Our faculty and staff are dedicated to quality education and helping students above all. This dedication, along with Dr. Dawe’s visionary leadership style, is a remarkable combination for Ozarka and the communities we serve. He is enthusiastic about supporting new programs and innovations to push Ozarka College ahead and continue our tradition of excellent service to north-central Arkansas, as well as providing those life-changing experiences through education to our students, as our mission states.”
Praising the community and Ozarka’s board of directors, Dawe said he has never been associated with such a strong team.
“Finding something you can absolutely throw your passion into that is larger than yourself,” Dawe said about his job. “It’s a wonderful thing to be able to share this mission with such a dedicated staff. We are pulling in the same direction, and that is to serve the students.”