Edmund Joseph Dobbin (November 20, 1935 – March 8, 2015) was a Roman Catholic priest of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA, ordained 1962), and 31st president of Villanova University from 1988 to 2006.
Raised in Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York, he became a noted educator in theology and mathematics, and Villanova's longest-serving president.
[1][2][3][4][5][6] According to Villanova's statement announcing his death: "During his tenure as President, he heightened awareness of the Augustinian character of the University, significantly increased the school's endowment, and embarked on an expansion of the campus, its facilities, and its programs.
"[5] The Philadelphia Inquirer added: "During Father Dobbin's tenure, Villanova basketball went national.
"[4] At the same time, he led Villanova academics to national recognition, and to a long string of annual rankings as the top Northeast regional university.