2008 Woodie Awards
Veteran administrator leaves mark
Praveen Sathianathan
Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: News
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Caffee first joined Brookhaven in January 1982 as a counselor and a human development professor. He has held several positions at the college during his tenure.
Caffee worked in the Advising and Counseling Center until 1989. He served as interim director twice. Although he joined the Communications Division in 1987 as a part-time professor, it was not until 1989 that he became a professor of speech communications as well as the coordinator of the speech program.
He said after serving as executive dean of student support services and associate vice president of student development he entered his current role as vice president for student development.
"I do not think I set out to be an administrator," Caffee said. "It was one of the things I liked and enjoyed. I've tended to be in the right place at the right time and have been willing to take a leap of faith and the extra responsibilities with the job."
Joy Arndt, director of Student Programs and Resources, said Caffee contributed to students' success even before he was vice president of student development.
"Claude has always been a strong support for everyone in student services," Arndt said. "He is a rare individual. It's painful. He will be sorely missed."
During his tenure at Brookhaven, Caffee has received many awards and honors. In 1999 he was named Texas Speech Communication Associations Community College Educator of the Year.
He said recently he was named the recipient of the Dallas County Community College District Jean Sharon Griffith Student Development Leadership Award.
"It's quite an honor to be selected by your peers and recognized for your work," he said, speaking of the latter award.
Maribel Pullen, who has served as Caffee's assistant for the last five years, said: "It will definitely be different. This place is not going to be the same without him. It will be very difficult to fill his shoes."
Before coming to Brookhaven, Caffee taught English and served as a counselor for the Arlington Independent School District in Arlington, Texas, and in the Pittsburgh Independent School District in Pittsburgh, Texas.
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