Western Nevada College News
One of WNC’s Longest-Serving Presidents Passes
May 16, 2023
Former WNC President Dr. Anthony Calabro
One of Western Nevada College’s longest-running presidents has passed away. Dr. Anthony Calabro died earlier this year at age 84.
Dr. Calabro was the college’s second president and served in that capacity for 12 years.
Dr. Calabro became the second president at Western Nevada Community College in 1983, following the college’s initial president, Jack C. Davis, who also served in that role for 12 years.
“We are very saddened by the loss of a very important person in the college’s history and development. Dr. Calabro was someone who made a significant impact on the college we are today,” said WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe. “He was one of my first professors in my doctoral program at UNR and I remember his stories and interest in higher education in our region. Dr. Calabro will remain in our hearts and thoughts at WNC. Our condolences go out to his family.”
Development of Western’s academic programs, facilities and its service area were hallmarks of Dr. Calabro’s presidency. Notably, Western doubled its enrollment to 5,000 students per semester while he was president, and employees who worked with him remember his direct management style.
“President Calabro was deeply committed to Western Nevada College and to the students,” said former longtime Admissions and Records Director Dianne Hilliard, who now serves the college as a Student Relations officer and Admissions and Records specialist. “He could often be found wandering the hallways talking with faculty, staff, and students. He was involved with many positive changes to WNC as the college grew not only in size (from one building to multiple), but also with increased enrollment and staffing.”
WNC Professor of Music Stephanie Arrigotti remembers President Calabro direct and forward leadership approach, too.
“We have fond memories of Tony as being freely expressive — reminding us of our Italian family,” she said. “When he loved something, you knew it, and when he was displeased with something, you definitely knew it. He always cared for and took care of his faculty and staff.”
Western launched the fundraising arm of the college while he was president along with its first capital fundraising campaign. He also oversaw the creation of a service center in Fernley, opened two new halls on the Fallon campus, added the Aspen Building and a state-of-the-art Machine Tool Technology shop on the Carson City campus, as well as the opening of a Child Care Center. At the time, Western was the only college in Nevada with a machine tool program.
The opening of the Aspen Building enabled Western to debut much-needed science and art laboratories, expand counseling and admissions and open its first college cafeteria, the (Marvin) Sedway Café.
“Dr. Anthony Calabro has skillfully led Western Nevada Community College through a period of tremendous growth, change and academic development,” read the Board of Regents’ remarks when accepting President Calabro’s resignation on June 29, 1995.
“Dr. Calabro initiated partnerships with outside entities to bring distance learning capabilities to WNCC, especially in its highly successful Nursing program, enabling students from outlying communities to gain higher education instruction in their home communities, via interactive video instruction. He has had a remarkable presidency and moved Western Nevada Community College forward on so many fronts as a Nevada educational leader for 20 years.”
Arrigotti recalls the difference that President Calabro made in her professional career.
“I am thankful for him, because in a college that was locked into being a technology college at that time, he elevated me from a 10-year adjunct in music, running the program, to a contracted half-time position,” Arrigotti said.
Education remained a central part of Dr. Calabro’s life when he left Western in 1995. He taught graduate-level courses as a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. He routinely commented about news, events and honors that were posted on WNC’s social media accounts.
Dr. Calabro received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, his master’s degree from Colorado State and his doctorate in education from University of Northern Colorado. He served in the Vietnam War as part of the National Guard, then moved to Nevada with his wife, Claudia. Before becoming president at Western, Dr. Calabro served as assistant president at Truckee Meadows Community College.
He is one of only three of Western’s nine presidents to serve more than 10 years in the position.
Dr. Calabro established and funded the Michael Calabro Memorial Electronics Scholarship in his son’s name through WNC Foundation following his presidency at Western.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Western Nevada College Foundation. Phone 775-445-3240 for more information.