Mark R. Shibles Jr., son of first dean of the College of Education, passes away

The son of the first dean of the University of Maine College of Education, Mark R. Shibles Jr., passed away August 24 at the age of 83.

Shibles, whose father’s name adorns Shibles Hall, was an educator and university administrator in his own right. After attending Orono High School and the University of Maine, he went on to earn his Ph.D. in educational administration from Cornell University. He was a faculty member at the University of Connecticut for 30 years and dean of the Neag School of Education there for over 10 years.

In 1985, the younger Shibles was honored by UMaine’s College of Education (renamed the College of Education and Human Development in 1997) as the first recipient of the Shibles Distinguished Visiting Professorship, established in his father’s memory.

After his career at UConn, Shibles and his wife Betty (Colley) Shibles retired to Maine, where he continued to be involved in educational and community endeavors, including as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board to the College of Education and Human Development.

“On behalf of the College of Education and Human Development, we extend our sincerest sympathies to the entire Shibles family,” said Penny Bishop, current dean of the college. “Dr. Shibles exemplified the kind-hearted leadership we hope to instill in our students.”

Read more about Shibles and his legacy in his obituary. Gifts in his memory for the Mark R. Shibles Distinguished Visiting Professorship can be made to the University of Maine Foundation.