Newly hired Dean Danny M. Hoey, Jr. brings equity-minded leadership to Gavilan College
by Jan Janes on Sep 20, 2021
Dr. Danny M. Hoey, Jr. has joined Gavilan
College as Dean of Student Learning, Equity
and Success for Art, Humanities & Social
Sciences following a nationwide search.
He brings a vision for the division and the college to embrace intentional anti-racist pedagogy.
Stepping into the position, vacant for a year, Hoey will provide direction and leadership in the areas of Social Sciences, Fine Arts, Humanities, English, Languages and Letters. He will lead the college-wide Guided Pathways, AB 705, service learning and public policy initiatives, and offer oversight of the television studio, art gallery, writing center and theater. While the college conducts a search for a new Vice President of Academic and Student Services, Hoey will also manage the faculty liaison, professional development and assessment committees.
Before joining Gavilan College in July, Hoey served as Assistant Dean – English, Literacy and Communications for two years at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland. He was Associate Professor of English (2014-2019) and Assistant Professor of English (2011-2014) at Indian River State College in Florida.
Immediately after high school, Hoey headed to The Ohio State University on a full scholarship.
“When I went to college, my intention was to be a journalist,” said Hoey. “Ohio State is a top journalism school, and I was a journalist in high school, editor of the newspaper.”
His first semester in college, Hoey successfully challenged the introductory writing course. After submitting his first Composition 2 writing assignment, he waited as all the other students received their graded papers. Hoey received his last. The instructor, a master’s student, accused Hoey of plagiarism, graded the paper a zero, and threatened to turn him in for academic discipline and possible expulsion.
Stunned, Hoey explained that he had earned 4 on the AP exam in English, allowing him to test straight into Composition 2. He also realized he had to fight for himself. Navigating the crisis, he became an activist. As one of only two Black students in that class, he was learning the dynamics of the institution he was attending.
“That one disastrous moment changed the trajectory of my life,” said Hoey.
Recalling his high school classes in British and Russian literature, Hoey switched his major from journalism to English. Then a classmate recommended he take a class from Dr. Shipley, who taught African American literature.
“As we read the works in that course, I realized that this is my life, in writing and words,” said Hoey. “To be in a class with all Black students and a Black male professor, I could see myself teaching African American literature.”
After completing his B.A. in English at The Ohio State University, he earned his M.A. in Africana Studies at the State University of New York at Albany. While there he taught his first African American Studies class.
“The instructor didn’t show,” said Hoey. “We were studying Invisible Man, social and political issues, so I just stepped in for the day.” He stopped by the professor’s office after class and discovered the absence was intentional. Hoey successfully met the challenge and was offered more opportunities to teach.
The love of writing impelled him to earn a second M.A. in English and Creative Writing from Long Island University. Four years later Hoey earned his Ph.D. in English and Creative Writing at University of North Texas, with a concentration in creative writing. He published his first novel, The Butterfly Lady, in 2013.
Early in his career Hoey worked in what was then called minority affairs.
“I was fighting for students whose instructors refused to see minorities as capable,” said Hoey. “We have to get students across the finish line, where they can get the degree, the certificate to make more money.”
Hoey reflected on his college freshman experience nearly three decades ago, the false accusation of plagiarism, and the skills he learned to preserve his scholarship and academic career.
“Something clicked in me. I need to be the person in the room fighting for all, especially students who look like me,” he said.
In addition to his administrative duties at Gavilan College, Hoey will return to the classroom during the Spring 2022 semester to teach Creative Writing.
Contact him at dhoey@gavilan.edu or (408) 848-4702.