A lifetime of impact

"Redlands still has that same concern and investment in students and education—it’s pronounced and palpable.” 

For Dr. Patricia Donahue ’74, learning has always been a move towards something larger—an ongoing pursuit of understanding, empathy, and meaning. A path that began at University of Redlands, where she discovered her academic voice as a double major in philosophy and comparative literature, and a structure for education grounded in care and curiosity. 

“Redlands has and continues to be the kind of school it was when I attended, but has become much more through mergers, program growth, and graduate education,” she said. “I went to graduate school because of my philosophy professor, John D. Arras, and I believe that Redlands still has that same concern and investment in students and education—it’s pronounced and palpable.” 

Half a century later, that experience continues to shape Donahue’s life as a scholar, donor, and this year’s Eaton Lecture Series speaker. Her upcoming talk will explore how we interpret complex ideas across literature, ethics, and the natural world, and what it means to approach that process with patience and imagination—and of course, dogs.  

“I’m going to talk about a course I’ve taught that had a component of the literary dog and how we read the dog,” she said. “I love dogs and they can certainly be interpreted and analyzed from several disciplinary perspectives, including biology, psychology, moral theory, and literature.” 

With her upcoming talk bringing together her deep connection to U of R and passion for literature, Donahue and her husband, Mike, have also contributed a gift to the English Department. Designed to expand academic access and foster a love of storytelling, their donation helps students purchase books, attend professional conferences, and fully engage in their studies.  

“We wanted to make sure students could participate fully in the department’s curriculum,” she said. “And we wanted to celebrate storytelling—because it’s how we imagine, empathize, and communicate.” 

Even after earning her doctorate from UC Irvine and spending more than three decades teaching at Lafayette College, Donahue said she still carries Redlands with her. “My strongest friendships are still my Redlands friendships,” she said. “Every time I’m back, it feels like coming home.” 

The Eaton Lecture series featuring Dr. Patricia Donahue will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 11, in Hall of Letters 100.