Political science professor Don Dugi celebrated after five decades at Transylvania

When political science professor Don Dugi started at Transylvania University, Gerald Ford was president, people kept rocks as pets and the school year was divided into quarters.

He recalled the campus uproar just two years after he started, when the school proposed switching to semesters. Students gathered on the steps of the Old Morrison administration building — “We want quarters! Keep your change,” one protester’s sign read. 

Dugi has since witnessed — and helped shape — decades of transformation at the university. This spring, the campus celebrated his half-century of service with events including a luncheon and slideshow tribute during Alumni Weekend’s Dugi Fest, his “Last Lecture” to the Class of 2025, and a $1 million Don Dugi Endowment. The city of Lexington also proclaimed April 26 as Don Dugi Day.

Dugi, who started at Transylvania shortly after completing his Ph.D. at Purdue University, has influenced generations of students. He has no confirmation that he’s taught the grandchildren of his former students — “but it’s possible,” he said.

For the record, he likes semester-long classes better. He had to teach 10 different courses his first year, for one thing. For another, a quarter isn’t enough time for students to really engage in a subject matter. That ties into his attitude toward serious reading — as opposed to the shallowness of so much social media claiming the attention of young people these days. “In order to think deeply, you have to read deeply,” he said.

Moving out of his office, he gave away a stack of extra books like Plato’s “Republic” to students or whoever else might benefit from them. Reading the Greek philosopher, in fact, was a fundamental part of Dugi’s theory classes, where he wanted students to develop analytic skills and learn philosophical building blocks that would be transferable far beyond a political science course. Not only did they find out what Plato said, but they delved into why he said it. It was hard work and required attentiveness, but ontological idealism isn’t something you can grasp by watching a TikTok video.

Thinking for yourself and discovering the foundation of things can help a graduate when it comes to law school. Transylvania students have gone on to success, including a perfect law school admission rate for those recommended by the university. Some have gone on to study at institutions such as Harvard, Stanford and Duke. Dugi teaches a workshop to assist them with the admissions process, including the LSAT.

“I’ve had a lot of good students over the years who are doing a lot of good things,” he said.

Still, he doesn’t take credit for their success. “That’s their activity,” Dugi said. “It’s not someplace where you can see the fruits of your labor.” A native Texan raised on a ranch, Dugi said he prefers gardening, where results are more tangible “With gardening, you can see the fruits of your labor — literally.” During summers on campus, he has been known to share baskets of fresh okra with colleagues.

Back when Dugi attended college himself, he remained in Texas to pursue his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. Then he went to Purdue for a Ph.D. in political science.

Dugi has spent summers at other universities over the years in a variety of roles, and he had opportunities to move on. But he and his wife like Lexington, which he called a good place to raise a family. Plus, he’s of the opinion that wherever you are, you should try your best and be happy there. 

“I live life by a code, not by any grand philosophy or religion or anything like that. My code is to leave people in places objectively better off for my having been there. And so if that’s the case, wherever I am doesn’t matter so much.”

Dugi’s efforts have been well recognized with accolades include Kentucky Professor of the Year from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, the Bingham Award for Excellence in Teaching and a Bingham-Young Professorship.

The media have also often sought him out to discuss politics — from The Washington Post to Business Lexington.

At Transylvania, Dugi has served in various positions outside the classroom. He advised the Student Government Association, supervised a legislative internship program and sponsored both College Republicans and Democrats, for instance.

Dugi is a familiar face at campus events as well — from afternoon poetry readings to major campus lectures. He said it’s a way for faculty to set a good example for students; also, even after being a professor for 50 years, he’s still excited about better understanding his world.

“We’re supposed to be a community of inquiry, and there are all kinds of things to learn about,” Dugi added.

In honor of his dedication, U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey from Kentucky remarked on his career in Congress this past April. “Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues, and every student who has been taught by him, to join me in expressing our deepest gratitude to Dr. Don Dugi for his outstanding service to Transylvania University and the Commonwealth of Kentucky and his enduring impact on students’ lives.”