Praised for his ability to draw finely tuned blueprints of higher education, Benjamin D. James ’34 was awarded an honorary doctor of public service by Edna V. Baehre, president of Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) during its Convocation on Sept. 14.

In spring 1964, James, then professor of psychology and the first dean of students at Dickinson College, set out to author the original curriculum of HACC. At a time when community college expertise was difficult to find and a college degree was implausible for low-income students, James was pivotal in responding to America’s need for home colleges funded by the school board, state and student.

However, the state lacked any information that could be used as a base for the curriculum. Without even the knowledge of what sort of student would attend the school, James signed on to chair the committee that worked to create an academic program for HACC. The college, which initially attracted 426 students, now serves more 53,000 across its several Pennsylvania campuses.

Recalling his foresight, Baehre emphasized how the “curriculum … encompassed core needs that remain relevant 43 years later.”

James’ legacy as a leader is multifaceted and stems from his passion to help people from diverse backgrounds. For more than half a century, James, who marked his 95th birthday last month, built a career of educational administration and humanitarian work, serving as the first dean of admissions of Dickinson College, chairman of the committee that was involved with the integration of Carlisle schools, and the first chairman of the Cumberland County Children’s Welfare Committee.

He remains ever-present at Dickinson—which, along with Penn State Dickinson School of Law, awarded James an honorary degree—where he sometimes can be seen eating lunch with fraternity members or taking students to church. Continually striving to make students feel important, he notes, “in order to be a volunteer, one needs … to be helpful to the college so the student grows.”

Back to For Alumni