Honoring the Work of Dr. Joffre T. Whisenton, Longtime DMC Board Member
During its February 7, 2025, meeting, the DMC Board of Directors passed a resolution honoring the life and work of Dr. Joffre T. Whisenton, a longtime Board member whose term of service ended in January.
As the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama, Dr. Whisenton helped pave the way for future generations. His work as an educator, administrator, community advocate, and special assistant for educational policy at the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare alongside Dr. David Mathews continues to inspire.
Dr. Whisenton’s collegiate service in Alabama included a joint appointment as Professor of Education and Psychology at Stillman College and as program associate in the Office for Student Development at the University of Alabama. He subsequently served as associate executive director of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
In 1975, Whisenton took a leave of absence from this position to work alongside Dr. David Mathews as special assistant for educational policy at the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare under President Gerald R. Ford. Thereafter, Dr. Whisenton was the fifth president of the Southern University System in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and president of Whisenton & Associates, Inc., where he continued to consult on problem-solving solutions for institutions of higher education, corporations, and government entities. "No one has done more than Dr. Whisenton to develop leadership in the HBCUs to strengthen our democracy,” said Dr. David Mathews in a recent interview. “I consider myself very fortunate to have been a good friend for decades."
From the beginning of the DMC two decades ago, Dr. Whisenton served as an advisor and Board member, bringing to the group unique perspectives on community-building and public engagement seen during his distinguished career. He was a model of integrity and a great encouragement to the staff. “During my decade on the DMC staff, Dr. Whisenton demonstrated unfailing kindness and insightful leadership as a member of the DMC Board of Directors,” said former DMC Executive Director Cristin Brawner. “Not a board meeting passed without him offering a kind word of support and encouragement to each staff member for their hard work. I remain deeply thankful to Dr. Whisenton for his years of service and leadership to the David Mathews Center for Civic Life.”
Passed by unanimous acclamation, the Board’s resolution concludes with “its profound appreciation to Joffre T. Whisenton, Ph.D. for his many years of service to the David Mathews Center for Civic Life, and to the crucial, ongoing causes of community engagement, public education, and the preservation of our democracy.”
Click here to listen to a 2017 interview between Drs. Mathews and Whisenton, in which the two men discuss their work in Alabama and Washington, DC.