Outgoing dean launches MMA graduates

CASTINE – When departing Provost William Eisenhardt was asked to speak at Maine Maritime Academy’s graduation, he declined, thinking graduates would want to hear from someone more famous.

But since the president and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II weren’t available, and the school’s board of trustees nixed Jennifer Lopez’s choice of graduation robes, the Class of 2001 was stuck with him, Eisenhardt joked Sunday at the school’s 58th commencement.

Eisenhardt, who is departing from MMA after 17 years to become the president of California Maritime Academy, did not disappoint the standing-room-only crowd in the Alexander Fieldhouse with his words of wisdom, which were distilled into a top 10 list.

The items on the list included continuing to learn, teaching a little, celebrating life’s diversity, respecting all living things, and not compromising one’s integrity.

There was no No. 1 on his list, Eisenhardt said, because each student must find his or her own way and can’t rely on directions from others when it comes time to make decisions.

Although the 135 graduates had just mastered the most up-to-date technologies, he warned them that those technologies could well be obsolete in five years. Just five years ago, a 486 processor in a computer was considered plenty fast, cellular phones came in bags the size of briefcases, and e-mail was used primarily by scientists.

Eisenhardt also encouraged students to be open to where life might take them. Thinking back to his own graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy 35 years ago, he said he would have fallen over with derisive laughter if someone had suggested he would work at a college and become an academic dean.

But that’s just what happened. After serving as a naval aviator in the Vietnam War, Eisenhardt received advanced degrees at Duke University and Harvard University.

He came to MMA in 1984 as an assistant professor of economics and management. He later became commandant of midshipmen and vice president for student affairs. He was named dean and provost for academic affairs in 1994.

For his service to the academy, Eisenhardt was awarded an honorary doctoral degree Sunday.

In addition, 123 students received bachelor of science degrees, four received associate of science degrees, and eight received master’s degrees. Although the majority of graduates were from Maine, others came from 22 states and four foreign countries.

Nearly all the graduates already have jobs lined up.

A highlight of the extended graduation weekend, the departure of the school’s training vessel, will be delayed by a problem with its oil-cooling mechanism.

The State of Maine was slated to leave Castine early this morning on a cruise with stops in ports in Brazil, Puerto Rico, Texas and New York City. It is now expected to leave Thursday morning after a needed part arrives.