Carroll University welcomes Dr. Donnie Hale as its new director of pre-college programs and assistant professor of education. In particular, Hale will reinforce the partnership between Carroll and the CEO Leadership Academy, a charter high school in Milwaukee.
Carroll has a history of partnerships with local organizations to provide pre-college opportunities for underrepresented students. Founded in fall 2011, CEO Carroll Connection matches students from CEO Leadership Academy to Carroll students through academic, engagement and enrichment programs. Saturday Academy, Junior/Senior Program and the Freshmen/Sophomore Summer Institute promote higher education learning and access, and help more of these students make it to and through college.
“I am excited about Dr. Hale’s commitment to the CEO Carroll Connection,” said Dr. Howard Fuller, a 1962 Carroll graduate and Chair of the Board for the CEO Leadership Academy. “I see his willingness to help us bring new approaches that will greatly benefit our students and the university. I look forward to working with him during this school year and beyond.”
Hale grew up in Stockton, Calif., and was a first-generation college student, the first of his four siblings to earn a degree. His desire is to create opportunities for students to achieve the best life has to offer. He said, “I have come to realize with faith, hard work and relentless determination that anything is possible. It is my job to facilitate growth and development of all individuals.”
This fall, Hale is teaching Education in an Intercultural Context and is learning as much as he can about Carroll and the CEO Academy. Then he can begin to analyze how to build upon the foundation and expand the existing system. One important factor is investing in relationships for success.
“You can truly improve a life by being a part of that life,” Hale said. “Ultimately I want to see people do well.”
Prior to Carroll, Hale was a lecturer and outreach and recruiting coordinator for the College of Education at the University of Oregon in Eugene. He also has experience with TRIO Pre-College Upward Bound, and as a football and track coach. Hale earned doctoral and master’s degrees in curriculum and instruction from Boise State University and a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University. He lives in Waukesha.
