Assistant Dean, School of Liberal Arts; Dean, Week-End College; Professor of Communication Studies
July 22, 1931-September 10, 2008
Whereas friends, family, and colleagues were saddened by the death of James R. East on September 10, 2008, and
Whereas, Dr. East completed his Ph.D. at Stanford University in rhetoric and public address, and
Whereas, Dr. East served IUPUI with distinction for 29 years as Assistant Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Dean of Week-End College, and as Professor of Communication Studies, and
Whereas, Dr. East successfully guided the Regional Campus of IU in developing curriculum that would allow students for the first time to complete degrees in Indianapolis, and
Whereas, following the merger of the Purdue and the IU campuses into IUPUI, Dr. East successfully marshaled the campus through accreditation by the North Central Accreditation Association for full accreditation separate from Bloomington
Whereas, Dr. East was recognized as the world-wide originator and developer of “Learn and Shop” wherein IUPUI offered college credit courses and degree programs in shopping centers providing access for many who otherwise would have been unable to achieve higher education, and
Whereas, Dr. East founded and served as Dean of IUPUI’S Weekend College, the largest such program in the nation, and
Whereas, Dr. East was a charter member of the International Listening Association and taught a listening course in the Department of Communication Studies for over twenty-five years, and continued to do so following his retirement, and
Whereas, Dr. published numerous journal articles and three books in addition to his administrative service, and
Whereas, Dr. East, himself a member of the English Avenue Boys’ Club at the age of five, continued his support of the organization the rest of his life including the organization and direction of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis Scholarship Program, the largest in the nation and currently endowed in excess of $1,200,000.
Whereas, Dr. East received numerous awards for his work including from IUPUI the Maynard K. Hine Alumni Award, The Edward Moore Top Administrator Award, and the Glenn W. Irwin, Jr. Excellence Recognition Award for distinguished public service, and
Whereas, Dr. East’s work in the Indianapolis community was honored with two CASPER Awards by the Central Indiana Community Service Council, the Indianapolis Mayor’s Community Service Award, the Indiana Jefferson Award for distinguished public service, and
Whereas, Dr. East’s contributions to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis were celebrated by naming their scholarship fund, “The James R. East Scholarship Program,” and by bestowing on him the Leadership Achievement Award, its first Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the prestigious Horatio Alger Award, and
Whereas, Dr. East continued in retirement his exemplary service to IUPUI as president of the Senior Academy, and
Whereas, Dr. East took great joy in promoting the accomplishments of faculty and students prior to and after his retirement, and
Whereas, Dr. East’s delight in bestowing on friends and colleagues sacks of apples picked each fall from his own orchards along with jars of honey harvested from hives he maintained at the orchard, and
Whereas, Dr. East’s unfailing sense of humor brightened even the most difficult moments, and
Whereas, for all of the lives Jim East touched and for those generations to come who will benefit from his pioneering efforts, and
Whereas, Jim East directed us to attend his passing with joy, not sadness
Be it resolved that the IUPUI Faculty Council recognize and celebrate the life and accomplishments of a dear colleague and cherished friend, and be it further
Resolved that the Council express on behalf of IUPUI, our condolences to Jim’s wife, Marilyn, and their children and beloved grandchildren.
This resolution was prepared by Dorothy L. Webb, Professor Emerita of Theatre