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WHEREAS, Dr. Robert J. Cavalier graduated from the philosophy program at Duquesne University and taught Humanities courses at the Community College of Allegheny County, Point Park University, Towson State University, and Villa Julie University; and,
WHEREAS, in 1987, Dr. Cavalier returned to Pittsburgh and joined Carnegie Mellon University's Center for Design of Educational Computing, where he received national recognition for his work on interactive educational media; and,
WHEREAS, while at Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Cavalier became the President and founding member of the International Association for Computing and Philosophy, a Teaching Professor in the Department of Philosophy, and a member of its Center for Ethics and Policy; and,
WHEREAS, in 2003, Dr. Cavalier founded the Program for Deliberative Democracy, which develops processes for residents and students to interact with local leaders on campus and throughout Pittsburgh to prioritize issues important to them and develop community-driven solutions to address challenges; and,
WHEREAS, Dr. Cavalier's work with "Deliberative Community Forums" connects residents, elected officials, and other leaders and facilitates meaningful dialogue on issues, including same-sex marriage, climate change, and challenges presented by Marcellus Shale; and,
WHEREAS, Dr. Cavalier worked with the Art of Democracy and the City of Pittsburgh to design forums and engage hundreds of residents in conversations surrounding important decisions, such as a selecting a new Chief of Police, prioritizing projects in the Capital Budget, and supporting the work of the Affordable Housing Task Force; and,
WHEREAS, through a public-private partnership between Dr. Cavalier, members of the Art of Democracy team, and the City's Office of Community Affairs, Pittsburgh has become a national model for a community-driven approach to decision-making; and,
WHEREAS, after his retirement this year, Dr. Cavalier will continue his involvement in the ...
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