ASU Retirees Association (ASURA) Video History Project Interviews

Donald (Don) Dotts began his association with ASU first as a student and then as a staff member in the ASU Alumni Association. He later became the Director of the Alumni Association before moving to the Development Office to work as a fund raiser prior to his retirement.

This interview recaps Don’s experiences working with the founder of the Alumni Association, Jimmy Creasman in developing the Alumni Association as well as his continued work in expanding the role of the Alumni Association at ASU. He also recaps experiences working for the various University Presidents who served during his tenure at ASU. He has many, many stories that will hold your attention as you listen to this interview!

Bob Francis grew up in Yuma, Arizona and graduated from ASU. After spending a year teaching high school in Yuma, he returned to ASU in 1970, starting in the Alumni Association. After a few years, he moved to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions where he spent most of his career. He retired in 2002.

Important / interesting parts of the interview include:
• The beginning of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in Part 2
• The changing attitude about the role of the University in marketing itself to students and parents in Part 3
• The role of the Devils’ Advocates played in selling the University in Part 4
• The role Don Dotts and Christine Kajikawa Wilkinson played in Bob’s career in Part 6

Bob Francis grew up in Yuma, Arizona and graduated from ASU. After spending a year teaching high school in Yuma, he returned to ASU in 1970, starting in the Alumni Association. After a few years, he moved to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions where he spent most of his career. He retired in 2002.

Important / interesting parts of the interview include:
• The beginning of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in Part 2
• The changing attitude about the role of the University in marketing itself to students and parents in Part 3
• The role of the Devils’ Advocates played in selling the University in Part 4
• The role Don Dotts and Christine Kajikawa Wilkinson played in Bob’s career in Part 6

Bob Francis grew up in Yuma, Arizona and graduated from ASU. After spending a year teaching high school in Yuma, he returned to ASU in 1970, starting in the Alumni Association. After a few years, he moved to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions where he spent most of his career. He retired in 2002.

Important / interesting parts of the interview include:
• The beginning of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in Part 2
• The changing attitude about the role of the University in marketing itself to students and parents in Part 3
• The role of the Devils’ Advocates played in selling the University in Part 4
• The role Don Dotts and Christine Kajikawa Wilkinson played in Bob’s career in Part 6

Robert (Coach) Fleming was Professor of Music, Associate Director of Bands, and Director of Marching Band from 1974-2002, Coach Fleming grew up in a music family playing the flute. He briefly taught in high school, before moving to the University of Tennessee at Martin where he was band director for seven years. The interview touches on numerous topics and stories including winning the Sudler Trophy, performing at the 1991 Midwest Band Orchestra Clinic, conducting at Carnegie Hall, both ASU Rose Bowl appearance, etc. The interview ends with various discussions of the importance of the Band as a family

Quinton Bogart came to ASU in 1970 from Texas Southmost College, a community college in Brownsville, Texas where he had been President. He joined the Center for the Study of Higher Education, now called Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, in the Education College. Quinton’s area of interest was community colleges and the important role they play. Universities and Community Colleges are often in competition and this interview shows how he was able to work for both sides: helping community college districts, developing future community college teachers and administrators, and working to smooth the transfer from community colleges to Arizona’s universities. Quinton discusses working with President Michael Crow to have the Retiree’s Association officially recognized as part of ASU.

Kristin Valentine came to ASU in 1976 and joined the Communication faculty in the Fine Arts College. She retired as professor of Human Communication in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication twenty-eight years later. Kristin describes what oral interpretation of literature is and the interview includes numerous examples of oral interp and how it enhanced the transfer of new ideas to an audience / community. The interview covers the creation of the School of Public Programs and the changing role of women at ASU. The interview ends with a discussion of the importance of community.

Charlie Arntzen joined ASU in August 2000 as the Florence Ely Nelson Presidential Endowed Chair and retired in 2016 from the School of Life Sciences and Biodesign Institute. Charlie was the founding Director of the Biodesign Institute.
Important ASU stories include:
1) the creation of the Biodesign Institute,
2) the design and operation of the Biodesign labs,
3) the development of ZMapp to fight Ebola,
4) The New American University - a discussion of the importance of collaboration, and
5) several comments about Presidents Coor and Crow and Provost Glick