Donald West Harward

Donald West Harward is an American philosopher, author, and academic administrator. He served as the sixth president of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.
Harward was instrumental in the assertion of traditional liberal arts values of egalitarianism and social justice that would go on to create a moral imperative to connect academically to the United States and beyond. These assertions materialized in numerous community-engaged programs that helped the city of Lewiston, the Bates community, and the state of Maine. Which went on to provide a national precedent on how a liberal arts college should effectively connect and engage with their respective communities.
He greatly expanded the college's overall infrastructure by building 22 new academic, residential and athletic facilities, including Pettengill Hall, the Residential Village, and the Bates College Coastal Center at Shortridge.

Early life and career

Harward received his B.A. in mathematics from Maryville College, then his M.A. from American University, and Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Maryland.

Harward then taught at the University of Delaware and the College of Wooster, where he served as a dean and vice president of academic affairs. In 1989 Harward became president of Bates College. As president Harward stressed Bates' tradition of egalitarian values and involvement in the community. Harward was instrumental in the assertion of traditional liberal arts values of egalitarianism and social justice that would go on to create a moral imperative to connect academically to the United States and beyond. He strengthened the thesis program and study abroad programs. Harward oversaw the construction of 22 buildings and facilities at Bates and worked to integrate Bates into the Lewiston community. President Harward retired in 2002. The Harward Center for Community Partnerships in Lewiston was opened in 2005. The center was named after Harward for his continuous work in strengthening community ties.

He created two dozen new academic programs, which gave faculty the proper resources to investigate their fields in non-traditional ways. He stated, of the project, "You can’t just study the molecular structure of a substance, without learning about the people who might be using the substance to create things that can destroy our environment.”