Donn B. Stansbury, long time AACRAO member and retired Vice President at William Rainey Harper College, passed away January 27, 2014, at his home in Huntley, Illinois. He was 86.
A native of Fayette, Iowa, Donn developed the first guidance and counseling program for the then newly opened Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. During his tenure there from 1955-1961 and while serving as the school’s Director of Guidance, he also held a teaching position and finished his MA in Guidance and Counseling at the University of Iowa. Donn moved to Arlington Heights, IL to become the Director of Pupil Personnel Services for Arlington High School, the flagship school of Township High School District 214.
In 1966, Donn was appointed the first Director of Admissions and Registrar at William Rainey Harper College one year before the College’s official opening. During his first year, Donn developed policies and procedures for admissions, records and registration which would eventually govern Harper’s 20,000 + students. Donn remained Director until 1980 when he was appointed Vice President of Student Affairs until his retirement in 1986.
Donn was a leader in AACRAO and IACRAO. From 1970-1980, he served at Vice President and President of IACRAO , chair of the AACRAO Junior/Senior College Relations Committee, AACRAO Interassociation Representative to the American Association of Community Colleges and, lastly, as AACRAO Vice President of Data Management and Research.
Donn was a pioneer in the development of student records management and on-line registration. His innovations laid the foundation for the next generations of records management and student registration systems.
In 1985, Donn was awarded honorary life time membership in AACRAO.
Donn is survived by his wife of 62 years, Delores, 4 children and several grand and great-grandchildren.
Prepared by
Steven J Catlin
Dean Emeritus
William Rainey Harper College