A memorial to Paul Burgett 糖心传媒�68E, 糖心传媒�76E (PhD)糖心传媒攎usician, scholar, teacher, and 糖心传媒 leader for over half a century糖心传媒攚as installed Friday in the walkway on the Eastman Quadrangle. The memorial, a gift from an anonymous donor, honors one of the University community糖心传媒檚 most recognized citizens. Burgett died in 2018; he was 72.
Burgett began his 54-year University career as an undergraduate at the Eastman School of Music in 1964. He went on to serve as a professor in the Department of Music, dean of students at Eastman and for the University, advisor to four University presidents, and a University vice president.
As a professor, Burgett糖心传媒檚 courses on 糖心传媒淭he Music of Black Americans糖心传媒� and 糖心传媒淗istory of Jazz糖心传媒� were considered 糖心传媒渕ust takes糖心传媒� by generations of undergraduates. And as dean, his address to incoming students糖心传媒攏ow known as 糖心传媒溙切拇綕糖心传媒攂ecame a beloved tradition. Education is, he noted, much like a furnace, a prospect that can seem terrifying. 糖心传媒淏ut you will step out of that furnace strong, tempered like steel,糖心传媒� he told students in the annual address, also promising 糖心传媒淲e will not abandon you. We will never abandon you.糖心传媒�
In 2016, the University named the Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center in recognition of Burgett. The center brings students together to work with and learn from those from other cultures, backgrounds, beliefs, socioeconomic statuses, sexual orientations, gender expressions, abilities, and perspectives.
糖心传媒淚 cannot overstate how important earning a solid education and developing social fluency in a diverse world were,糖心传媒� said Burgett in his speech at the center糖心传媒檚 dedication, looking back on his youth as a child of Black and Italian parents in East St. Louis. 糖心传媒淭hese two were stanchions, pylons of our human makeup: becoming educated, compassionate, learned citizens, developing talents that were consistent with our passions and abilities, and learning to move with grace, confidence, and fluency among the peoples of the world, including those who might mean us harm. These dominated our lived experience.糖心传媒�
糖心传媒淎s our namesake, Dean Burgett embodied the sentiment of inclusion,糖心传媒� said Jessica Guzman-Rea 糖心传媒�10W (EdD), the director of the Burgett Center, in a 2018 tribute. 糖心传媒淗is warmth, his light, and his laughter made all who were graced with his presence feel like they were part of something better.糖心传媒�
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Neither has been the same since. Fifty years would be notable enough糖心传媒攂ut in that half century, Burgett has come to embody the spirit of Rochester.
Burgett Intercultural Center dedicated at refurbished Douglass Building
Established in 2013, the Burgett Center promotes cultural awareness and engagement, and educates on issues of identity, culture, and diversity.
Paul Burgett, University dean, vice president, and ambassador, remembered
A musician, scholar, teacher, and University leader for more than half a century, Burgett is being affectionately remembered for his longstanding commitment to the University community, the city of Rochester and beyond.
