Barry A. Marks, 57, of Kingston, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Rhode Island , died yesterday at Rhode Island Hospital.He was the husband of Patricia (Jackson) Marks.
As dean of the largest college at URI, he served as administrator for nearly half the faculty and students. His support in curricular and instructional development had a campuswide impact.
Dean Marks led the revision of the college's general education program, which inspired the university's curricular reform. He was deeply concerned with the quality of teaching and research, and established within the College of Arts and Sciences a faculty development program which provides faculty members with opportunities to expand scholarly activities.
During the 1982-83 academic year, he was selected to represent the administration on the committee formed to search for a new university president.
Through the academic leadership of his college and his many special assignments at the university, Dean Marks earned a reputation for openess, integrity and an unending pursuit of excellence.
Before joining URI as dean and a professor of English in 1974, Mr. Marks served as a professor and chairman of the department of literature at the American University, Washington, D.C., where he established an innovative doctoral program in literature.
From 1955 to 1968, he served on the faculty of Brown University as a professor of English, assistant to the dean and director of the undergraduate program in American civilization. During his tenure at Brown, he spent one year as a Fulbright lecturer in American literature and civilization at the University of Lille, France.
Mr. Marks graduated in 1948 from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., where he spent one semester as assistant to the dean. He received his master and doctorate degrees from the University of Minnesota, where he was an instructor. Dean Marks' professional and academic career in humanities complemented his active participation in the struggle for individual rights in his community.
He served as chairman of the Rhode Island Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. In this capacity, he coordinated the passage of Rhode Island 's fair housing law and, later, an amendment that strengthened the law.
Mr. Marks was chairman of the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights from 1965 to 1968, and worked to put the fair housing law into operation. He then became the chief adviser on race relations to then Gov. John H. Chafee.
Senator Chafee yesterday issued the following statement on Dean Marks' death:
"This is a terrible loss to URI and to our state. I first knew Barry when he came forward to help with the passage of the state Fair Housing Law. He so impressed me with his energetic dedication and common sense that I appointed him to the Commission for Human Rights, and then to its chairmanship. He was a wonderful person who constantly fought for equality of opportunity. In addition, he was an outstanding teacher, scholar and academic leader. He will really be missed."
A strong advocate of the humanities, both at the university and beyond, Dean Marks was a member of the Rhode IslandCommittee for the Humanities.
He published works in his field on Cummings, Twain, Hawthorne and Thoreau. During a sabbatical in France last year, he completed a manuscript titled, "In the Present: The Strategy of Thoreau's Walden."
His interests included sailing, golf and tennis. Last summer, he was a member of the doubles team that won the Rhode IslandSenior Open doubles title.
Born in New York City, he was a son of the late Eric H. and Beatrice H. (Stone) Marks.
Besides his wife he leaves two daughters, Dana and Pamela Marks, both in Rhode Island ; a son, Stephen Harlan-Marks in Minnesota, a stepdaughter, Anne McClelland; a brother, E. Kenneth Marks, both of New York, and a grandson.
A memorial service was held at the Kingston Congregational Church, Kingston RI.Burial was in Leesburg, Va.
July 19, 1983 | Providence Journal (RI)
Barry A. Marks, 57, of Kingston, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Rhode Island , died yesterday at Rhode Island Hospital.He was the husband of Patricia (Jackson) Marks.
As dean of the largest college at URI, he served as administrator for nearly half the faculty and students. His support in curricular and instructional development had a campuswide impact.
Dean Marks led the revision of the college's general education program, which inspired the university's curricular reform. He was deeply concerned with the quality of teaching and research, and established within the College of Arts and Sciences a faculty development program which provides faculty members with opportunities to expand scholarly activities.
During the 1982-83 academic year, he was selected to represent the administration on the committee formed to search for a new university president.
Through the academic leadership of his college and his many special assignments at the university, Dean Marks earned a reputation for openess, integrity and an unending pursuit of excellence.
Before joining URI as dean and a professor of English in 1974, Mr. Marks served as a professor and chairman of the department of literature at the American University, Washington, D.C., where he established an innovative doctoral program in literature.
From 1955 to 1968, he served on the faculty of Brown University as a professor of English, assistant to the dean and director of the undergraduate program in American civilization. During his tenure at Brown, he spent one year as a Fulbright lecturer in American literature and civilization at the University of Lille, France.
Mr. Marks graduated in 1948 from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., where he spent one semester as assistant to the dean. He received his master and doctorate degrees from the University of Minnesota, where he was an instructor. Dean Marks' professional and academic career in humanities complemented his active participation in the struggle for individual rights in his community.
He served as chairman of the Rhode Island Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. In this capacity, he coordinated the passage of Rhode Island 's fair housing law and, later, an amendment that strengthened the law.
Mr. Marks was chairman of the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights from 1965 to 1968, and worked to put the fair housing law into operation. He then became the chief adviser on race relations to then Gov. John H. Chafee.
Senator Chafee yesterday issued the following statement on Dean Marks' death:
"This is a terrible loss to URI and to our state. I first knew Barry when he came forward to help with the passage of the state Fair Housing Law. He so impressed me with his energetic dedication and common sense that I appointed him to the Commission for Human Rights, and then to its chairmanship. He was a wonderful person who constantly fought for equality of opportunity. In addition, he was an outstanding teacher, scholar and academic leader. He will really be missed."
A strong advocate of the humanities, both at the university and beyond, Dean Marks was a member of the Rhode IslandCommittee for the Humanities.
He published works in his field on Cummings, Twain, Hawthorne and Thoreau. During a sabbatical in France last year, he completed a manuscript titled, "In the Present: The Strategy of Thoreau's Walden."
His interests included sailing, golf and tennis. Last summer, he was a member of the doubles team that won the Rhode IslandSenior Open doubles title.
Born in New York City, he was a son of the late Eric H. and Beatrice H. (Stone) Marks.
Besides his wife he leaves two daughters, Dana and Pamela Marks, both in Rhode Island ; a son, Stephen Harlan-Marks in Minnesota, a stepdaughter, Anne McClelland; a brother, E. Kenneth Marks, both of New York, and a grandson.
A memorial service was held at the Kingston Congregational Church, Kingston RI.Burial was in Leesburg, Va.
July 19, 1983 | Providence Journal (RI)
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