ASU Retirees Association (ASURA) Video History Project Interviews

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

Born in Muncie, Indiana as 1 of 9 children, John Edwards spent over 30 years at ASU, in various roles, working his way up to Associate Dean in Extended Education. In this interview, John recalls his experience growing up during the depression and right after school desegregation. As a young boy he had two goals – to go to college and to become a college professor, both of which he was successful in completing. He also discusses his involvement dealing with segregation/desegregation, discrimination and the Civil Rights movement.

John received his undergraduate education from Ball State University. At the time he went to college, all students held jobs on campus, and he describes many of those jobs. John spent time in the military after which he moved to Arizona and became a teacher in the Roosevelt School District. He then came to ASU as a Faculty Associate in the College of Education. While at ASU, he went back to school to get his PhD in Education.

Susan (Clouse) Dolbert is a former ASU employee who at the time of this interview, was working at Rutgers University. Susan has a long history with ASU starting off as a student for her undergraduate degree in Political Science/Latin American Studies. After graduation she went on to work in different positions within ASU, taking a brief break to work at Emory Riddle in Prescott. She returned to ASU and worked in Engineering before becoming the Director of Undergraduate Admissions. She completed her Masters degree in Communications with an emphasis on Organization Communications. She then went on to complete her PhD in Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Policy and Organizational Development. Her last position at ASU was as President and Director of the Alumni Association.

Susan left ASU to pursue a position as Head of Development at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. From there she became Head of Development at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, WA and then on to lead Rutgers Bio-American Health Sciences. Even though she is no longer physically at ASU, her heart will always beat as a Sun Devil!