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In 1975 Dr. Joshua Feldstein was elected to the presidency
of Delaware Valley College. Like James Work and Joseph Krauskopf
before him, he was committed to the principle of learning
combined with practical application.
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Dr. Feldstein came to this country from Lithuania
in 1939. He had graduated from the First Hebrew Private Gymnasium
and was attending the School of Engineering of the University
of Lithuania when his father, a highly regarded educator, made
the decision to send him to America for a college education.
It was advised that he spend a year in a small school where
he would become acclimated to the American way of life more
quickly than in a university where there would be large ethnic
populations. Therefore, Joshua traveled alone from Lithuania
to Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and began his days at the Farm
School. |
Joshua Feldstein as Associate Professor
of Horticulture |
He intended to stay at the school for about a year and then enroll
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to continue engineering
studies. He received no news from home. Hitler had invaded Lithuania
and Joshua did not learn of the death of his parents and older brother
until after the war. He stayed at the Farm School, graduated with
a major in Horticulture in 1942, and continued in a one-year postgraduate
program in agricultural mechanics.
Joshua Feldstein, Teacher |
He joined the instructional staff at the school and earned
his B.S. degree from the school after it became National Agricultural
College. Then, while still working for the college, he attended
Rutgers University where he earned a Master of Science degree
in Horticulture in 1956 and a Ph.D. in Horticulture in 1962.
Dr. Feldstein continued working for his alma mater first
as instructor, then as assistant professor, associate professor,
professor, Chairman of the Horticulture Department, Chairman
of the Plant Science Division, Associate Dean, then Dean of
the college. In 1975 he was elected the college's president,
a position he held from July 15, 1975 to June 30, 1987. At
his retirement, he was made President Emeritus and a member
of the Board of Trustees. He was called upon twice by the
Board of Trustees to serve as interim president.
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Among the notable accomplishments of Dr. Feldstein's presidency
are: the addition of two academic majors (Agribusiness in 1983 and
Computer Information Systems Management in 1984); reaffirming the
college's accreditation in 1983; construction of the Student Center;
construction of the James Work Memorial Stadium; improvements in
computer facilities in the Feldman Building; the building of the
Kenneth W. and Helen H. Gemmill Center for Animal Husbandry and
the Sydney Markovitz Equine Facility; the addition of laboratory
and classroom space to the greenhouse complex; and renovations to
the Allman Building.
Dr. Feldstein at the Campus Court of the Student
Center
During his terms as interim president, he was responsible for
the addition to the James Work Gymnasium, the addition to James
Work Hall (called New Residence Hall) and the Arthur Poley Greenhouse
Complex. He was also responsible for the start of construction of
the addition to the Mandell Science Building, which includes the
Jefferson Center.
Dr. Feldstein and his wife Miriam |
Dr. Feldstein met his wife, Miriam, on a blind date on the
campus and the two have lived here for more than forty-five
years. Before his retirement the Board of Trustees decided that
Dr. Feldstein, upon retirement, would be given the privilege
of residing in one of the college's houses. Dr. and Mrs. Feldstein
live in the house on Farm #1. |
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There can be no doubt about Dr. Feldstein's devotion to Delaware
Valley College. Students in the 1998 A-Day program, one of
several dedicated to him, lauded "His boundless caring
for DVC" and his "exuberance for all things green
and gold".
More about Dr. Feldstein may be found in his book, Evolution
of a Unique Institution, published in 2000 by PTGraphics,
Inc.
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Joshua Feldstein, President, 1975-1987 |
MJS 9/02
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