Dean Gallen

.
Dean Gallen was the dean of the School of Engineering when I went to Villanova University from 1964 through 1968. He was a brilliant man. Even better, he was a GOOD man. Here are some of the things that I remember about Dean Gallen:

During the first week or so of my freshman year at Villanova, there was an assembly of all freshman engineering students. Dean Gallen said: “I want you to take a moment and introduce yourself to the person sitting in front of you and on each side of you.”

After a few noisy moments, while we were introducing ourselves to each other, Dean Gallen called for silence. He said: “Only one in four of you will get a bachelor’s degree in engineering from here. Some of you will flunk out; some of you will transfer. For the one in four who does get an engineering degree from here, it won’t be easy.” Needless to say, I remembered what Dean Gallen said to us that day, during the next four years, and afterwards.

My first face-to-face encounter with Dean Gallen came during my sophomore year. I was struggling. I had struggled during my freshman year. Going into final exams, I worried about failing three courses: calculus, chemistry, and physics. I failed physics; I retook it in summer school. (Retaking physics during summer school is a story in itself, which I’ll save for another day.)

I vividly remember sitting in the back yard of our house on Quantico Street (Arlington, VA) with my Mom during the summer between freshman and sophomore years, and telling her: “I’m going back to Villanova this semester and give it EVERYTHING that I’ve got. If I don’t make it, then at least I can say that I tried my best.

After I received midterm grades for the first semester sophomore year, I scheduled an appointment with Dean Gallen. I sat in a chair in front of his desk. He had a folder with my grades in front of him. He asked: “What brings you here today?” I responded: “I need a 2.0 to graduate. I’ll never get there. I want to transfer out of engineering.”

As a side note, Dean Gallen’s son, Kevin, was in my engineering class. Kevin had a VERY high cum—close to 4.0. Dean Gallen said to me: “Ray, these midterm grades don’t count. If you’re between a C and a D, then your professor is going to give you a D at midterm to try to motivate you. I’ll make you a deal. You keep doing what you’re doing—keep studying hard—and I will PERSONALLY see that you get transferred to the curriculum of your choice here at the end of the semester, if that’s what you decide that you want to do.”

Long story short—I got my 2.0+. I can thank Dean Gallen for keeping me in engineering.

Another vivid memory that I have of Dean Gallen was his little “chats” our senior year. He told us: “The best students don’t always make the best engineers.” (Remember, Dean Gallen was a BRILLIANT and accomplished student himself, as was his son Kevin.) I will NEVER forget what Dean Gallen told us about the best students not always making the best engineers.

I will ALWAYS remember Dean Gallen. He was a GOOD man—a GREAT engineer, a GREAT dean, a good FAMILY man, and a good Christian.
.
.