The University of Maine at Presque Isle will host award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Darrell Dorgan for the week of Oct. 3 to 7 as its 2010-2011 Journalist/Professional Communicator in Residence.
In addition to his extensive journalism and filmmaking work, Dorgan is the Executive Director of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. During his visit to Northern Maine in early October, Dorgan will speak with local service organizations, University classes, and assist with student media programs.
He will also be showing his newest documentary film – Theodore Roosevelt: A Cowboy’s Ride to the White House – at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 6 in the Campus Center. The public is invited to attend this free film showing.
The film, which has been picked up by the National Education Television Association and is slated to run on up to 150 public television stations nationwide beginning in November, showcases Roosevelt’s time in the West and how it molded the future president’s character.
“I’m thrilled that Darrell Dorgan is coming back to UMPI,” UMPI Professor Dr. Jacqui Lowman, who is hosting his visit, said. “His visit two years ago was hugely successful and people have been asking for his return ever since. Darrell is truly a Renaissance man – no matter what he does, he excels at it. He’ll have a wonderful impact on our students and community.”
Dorgan kicked off the Journalist/Professional Communicator in Residence program in 2008.The program brings journalists and professional communicators to UMPI to advise and guide students, as well as lecture and speak in the greater community. At the time of his last visit, Dorgan helped to establish the Darrell Dorgan Community Journalism Scholarship. Last year, Mike Jacobs, publisher of the Grand Forks Herald, served as the University’s journalist in residence.
Dorgan spent more than 25 years working in the journalism field. His most recent journalism related work was as a producer, anchor and writer for Prairie News Journal – an hour-long news program viewed in three states and two Canadian Provinces. Dorgan also continues to write and produce historical documentaries for television. Dorgan is the recipient of more than 50 awards for journalism excellence, including an Emmy nomination in 1992 and a National Associated Press award for Reporting Beyond Reproach. He served as a Distinguished Lecturer at UMPI – as well as its first Journalist in Residence – in 2008 and has a scholarship named after him at the University.
Dorgan has served as the Executive Director of the Cowboy Hall of Fame since 1997, working first to establish a large base of support and raise more than $4 million to construct the 15,000 square-foot facility –it opened its doors in 2005 – and later to promote the institution to the world. As part of his work on the Hall of Fame, he spearheaded the effort to build a Western Heritage Center, which was named the Cowboy Museum of the Year in 2010.
Most recently, Dorgan was appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama as a member of the American Battle Monuments Commission. Dorgan is a Vietnam Veteran, a member of AMVETS and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.
For more information about Dorgan’s visit to the area, contact the Media Relations Office at 768-9452.
