[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 1788-1789]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO DR. ROBERT D. JENSEN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM KOLBE

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 27, 2003

  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the community of Tucson, 
Arizona, I would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Robert D. Jensen, 
a pioneer in the community college movement who has led Pima County 
Community College District as Chancellor for the past eight years. As 
he retires, it is fitting that Tucson thanks him for the leadership and 
vision he displayed at local, state and national levels. He has left a 
legacy that will benefit our children and grandchildren for generations 
to come.
  A Tucson Citizen editorial paid tribute to this ``highly visible 
community leader, working for higher education funding and ensuring 
that Pima Community College is a key cog in the community. Jensen has 
concentrated on making the college a truly local institution, 
responsive to local educational and job-market needs. He will be badly 
missed.''
  While in Tucson, Bob Jensen brought Pima Community College to the 
workforce development and economic development tables through business, 
government and education partnerships. He served on the board of 
directors for the Tucson Airport Authority, the Greater Tucson Economic 
Council (GTEC), the United Way, the Arizona Town Hall Board and the 
Carondelet Foundation. He was appointed to the Governor's Task Force on 
Higher Education, and is on the national boards of the American Council 
on International Intercultural Education, Community Colleges for 
International Development, and the American Association of Community 
Colleges where he chaired its Executive Committee on Public Policy/
Government Relations.
  He is recognized by his colleagues for his leadership in advancing 
the level of professionalism in educational administration and for his 
passion and dedication to enabling students to achieve success. He has 
worked tirelessly to make a college education accessible to all and to 
expand community college resources within the city of Tucson. He has 
mentored several generations of people who are now in executive 
administrative positions throughout America's community colleges. He 
co-authored the Insider's Guide to Community College Administration, a 
primer on issues facing campus leaders. He faced tough issues head-on, 
tackling each with generosity, creativity, and wisdom.
  Dr. Jensen has served as a chief executive officer in higher 
education for 25 years of his 41-year career. His leadership at four 
community colleges in California and Arizona includes a broad range of 
expertise and experience in administration/management, curriculum, 
instruction, planning, institutional research, professional development 
and community outreach.
  Bob Jensen earned a bachelor's degree in business/administration/
accounting and a master's in education/English/literature from Linfield 
College in Oregon. He began teaching in 1962, but returned to college 
on a National Graduate Fellowship to earn his doctorate in community 
college administration from Washington State University. Jensen served 
in numerous positions at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon; 
as Deputy Chancellor at Los Rios Community College District in 
Sacramento; President of the District's American River College; 
Chancellor of Rancho Santiago Community College District in Santa Ana; 
Chancellor of the Contra Costa Community College District in Martinez, 
California; and, finally, as Chancellor of Pima County Community 
College District in Tucson, Arizona.
  A sampling of awards and honors accorded to Dr. Jensen include 
Pacific Regional Chief Executive Officer Award from the Association of 
Community College Trustees; National Pacesetter by the National Council 
for Marketing and Public Relations, CEO of the Year by the National 
Council for Research Planning. In addition he was honored by the 
national community college honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, with its 
Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction for executive leadership, and by 
the Tucson PTK chapter, Alpha Beta Chi, with its lifetime achievement 
award, renamed the Robert D. Jensen Award. Pima County Workforce 
Development recognized him for his achievement in the development of a 
well trained work force, he received several Community Services Award 
from the League of United Latin American Citizens and was honored for 
his work in advocating equal access and affirmative action by a 
conference of black educators (SAAMP). He also received the 
Distinguished Alumni Award from the Research and Planning Group for 
California Community Colleges; and received the Annual Leadership Award 
for serving the Mexican American Community from SER/Jobs for Progress.
  None of this would have been possible without the loving support of 
his wife, Jan, and his four daughters--Marjorie, Becky, Shelly, and 
Megan, as well as the indomitable high spirit and energy he inherited 
from his mother, Dorothy. The light of his life, his first grandchild, 
Jake, will no doubt give him great joy in retirement.

[[Page 1789]]

  Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to pay tribute to one of the great 
leaders in the community college movement in the United States.

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