Robert Darst Stokes
Robert Darst Stokes, Ed.D., graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1968. Active in scholastic affairs, he was a member of the Latin Club, Interact Club, Band, WROV Teen Town Show, A Cappella Choir, District One-Act Play, J.C.L. convention, and served as both captain and coach for the Debate Team. During college summers, he was a supervisor at Lakeside Park. His post-high school education began at the University of Richmond where he earned a B.A. degree in Political Science in 1972. He next received an M.E. degree in Student Personnel Services in Higher Education from the University of Vermont in 1974. In 1980, he earned an Ed.D. degree in higher Education Administration with a minor in Business Administration and Student Personnel Services from Indiana University.
Robert’s career began in 1974 as Assistant Coordinator of Student Life at James Madison University. In August of 1975, he accepted the position of Coordinator for residence Life at Indiana University, and in 1977, became Career Counselor at the Career Center for the university. In 1979, he was named Associate Director for the Office of Career Planning and Placement at the University of Maine. In 1982, he was appointed Director, Career Development Center at Villanova University. His office served 12,000 students and had responsibility for selecting, training, and supervising a staff of seven. He arranged career days, alumni job shadowing programs, summer job club for recent graduates, peer counselor program, and computer generated placement reports of graduates. Under his leadership the center received an award from the Engineering Joint Council recognizing the career assistance program.
In 1988, Robert was named Director, Office of Continuing Education at Villanova University. In this position, he supervised the office staff and selected, trained, and evaluated approximately 50 instructors. His office was responsible for developing, marketing, and managing non-credit continuing education programs. It also initiated new certificate programs in alcohol and drug counseling, human resource management, advertising and public relations. During his tenure, off-campus class sites were established at a number of locations including Philadelphia and Wilmington. It also gained American Bar Association (ABA) approval of a Paralegal Program.
In 1997, Robert was named Associate Dean, Part Time Studies and University Outreach, at Villanova University and in June 2003 received a promotion to Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs. Responsibilities included management of professional and administrative staff members in direction of part-time undergraduate degree and non-credit programs. His office coordinates marketing activities for these programs as well as graduate programs in engineering, business, arts and sciences, and nursing. Robert has also authored a number of publications dealing with continuing education, human resource management, and interviewing techniques. Awards and honors received include Certificate of Appreciation, Society for Human Resource Management; Recipient, Best Marketing Ideals Award, American Management Association; and recognition by Business/Professional Advertising Association for contribution to education.
Robert has served as an advisor for many programs at Villanova University as well as serving as president of the local Kiwanis Club. He is also an artist, and his oil and watercolor paintings are fast gaining recognition. Residing in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, he has two children, Kristen Nelson Stokes and Maureen Darst Stokes.
In recognition of his outstanding career achievement, Dr. Robert Darst Stokes is inducted into the 2003 Salem Alumni Hall of Fame established by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association.
