Dr. Robert Tolar receives 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award

by C.J. Gish
Media and publication writer
University Advancement
541-962-3585 / fax 541-962-3680

Dr. Robert Tolar was recently selected EOU's 2003 Distinguished Alumnus.

For the past 40 years, Robert Tolar has used his background in education as a foundation for helping developing nations.

For his work his many accomplishments, including work as a high school teacher, university professor and administrator, and creation of the Foundation for International Program and Educational Advancement, Tolar was selected EOU's 2003 Distinguished Alumnus.

Tolar earned his bachelor's degree from EOU in 1962 and his master's of teacher education in English in 1967. He spent four years teaching high school English in eastern Oregon, followed by five years at Portland State University as an English as a Second Language assistant professor. In 1968, Tolar became the first Fullbright-Hays scholar named to the Somali Republic, where he served as a consultant to the Minister of Education, an instructor and directed the United Nation's teacher training program.

Over the past 40 years, Tolar has become a leader in education in the United States, Canada and internationally. He has instructed students from over 100 countries, has served as administrator for Mt. Royal College in Calgary, Alberta, for Western States Chiropractic College in Portland and for Washington State University in both Pullman and Vancouver. His awards and honors include an honorary doctorate, honoris cuasa, from Krasnoyarsk State University in Krasnoyarsk, Russia; an honorary fellowship with the International College of Chiropractics; and the Clive Martin Award presented by the Student American Chiropractics Association.

While at Portland State University, Tolar would bus international students to the Echo/Stanfield area where they would stay with host families. He believed in the importance for his students to experience life in rural America. Now, as the president of the Echo Group, he strives internationally to make these same connections between countries. His most recent project for the U.S. Agency for International Development and the National Security Council involves working with grades 1-12 in Okahandja, Namibia to introduce new curriculum in agriculture education, reading and numeracy in cooperation with rural Oregon schools.

From 1988 to 1999, Tolar served as the State Education Coordinator and Director of International Programs for the Washington State University Small Business Development Center. He also wrote and implemented USAID-funded projects to provide economics education and management training in Romania, Moldova and Russia and directed the full-time staff in all three countries.

In 1991, after witnessing the poverty of developing nations, Tolar established the Foundation for International Development and Education. This organization provides financial assistance to the elderly poor in Romania and scholarships to rural schools in Namibia.

Tolar will attend EOU's Commencement Ceremonies on Saturday, June 14.

Contact Information

University Advancement Eastern Oregon University One University Boulevard La Grande, OR 97850 phone 541.962.3740 fax 541.962.3680 email University Advancement