In Grateful Memory of a Legacy in Education

Chancellor David Doré announced over the weekend the sad passing of Dr. Dana B. Hamel, founding chancellor of the VCCS. Hamel passed away on Friday, June 23, at 99.

“Dana Hamel’s leadership as the architect and first chancellor of our community colleges was essential in opening the door for countless Virginians to gain access to higher education and a better life,” Doré said.

Doré described Hamel as ‘tireless and unshakably optimistic.’ “There is little doubt he will be long remembered for his trademark cheerful greeting, ‘It’s a great day to be alive in the Commonwealth!’”

Dana B. Hamel was born in Maine, the son of Canadian immigrants, and he was raised in Johnstown, Pa. He enrolled in college but paused his education during WWII to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He returned to college on the G.I. Bill and eventually earned a doctorate in education from the University of Cincinnati.

He became president of Roanoke Technical Institute in the early 1960s and was tapped in 1966 to develop a system of similar institutions for the Commonwealth. Hamel was essentially the driving force behind establishing the system’s 23 colleges, staffing them and developing their policies. He stepped away in 1980 to become the executive director of the Virginia Center for Public/Private Initiatives from which he retired in 1995.

“Since joining NOVA, I have had the good fortune to talk with Dr. Hamel on a number of occasions,” said President Kress. “He still kept up with all that was happening across the system and would call presidents periodically to check in. Dr. Hamel was so proud of the achievements across the VCCS and spoke about NOVA in glowing terms. Whenever I saw his name pop up on my cell phone, I knew I was in for a delightful conversation.”

We are grateful for Dr. Hamel’s tremendous contribution to the community college mission and his work to make the dream of a college education a reality for so many thousands of students across the decades. He will be missed.

Submitted by:
Kathy Thompson, Communications, KAThompson@nvcc.edu