Donald E. Bain became fascinated with history and law at an early age. Pursuing his interests, he received a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1974. Prior to receiving the doctorate, he earned a Masters and a Bachelors degree. During undergraduate studies, he was a research assistant at Columbia University. Following doctoral work, he was awarded a NEH fellowship at Yale University. He subsequently received a graduate certificate in educational management from Harvard University.
As a member of the St. John Fisher College faculty since 1975, he held the positions of assistant, associate, and full professor, History Department chair, Dean of Faculty, Provost & Dean of the College, Vice-President for Administration, Acting President, and was appointed Interim President in September, 2004. He twice received the College Award for Teaching Excellence.
Research interests have taken him into government service during leaves of absence from the College. A specialist in 20th century American national security, he has been a Visiting Scholar at the Defense Intelligence Agency and also held a senior appointment in the Military Strategy Division of the Department of Defense, National Defense University in Washington. Scholarship includes papers, articles, essays, and book chapters dealing with American strategic policies and planning.
Before completing his education, he served in the United States Navy as a member of a combat aircrew logging 2500 hours of operational and training missions. A Vietnam era veteran, he is a member of Williamson, New York, American Legion Post 394.
Committed to public service, he belongs to several community organizations and also serves as a Town Justice in Williamson. He is a member of the New York State Magistrates Association. For several years, he has been on the faculty of the New York State Office of Court Administration judicial education staff and teaches judicial ethics.
He lives in a house in the country. It was built in 1826. He enjoys spending time on his family farm with his wife Margaret and their children and grandchildren. He golfs poorly but sails well.
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