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A Mentor in the Truest Sense

Dr, Robert Blair

Omaha – “He was my mentor in the truest sense.”

This is how Dr. Bob Blair remembers his mentor, Dr. Dave Scott--the chair of the Political Science Department. Bob remembers Dave as a wonderful man with a fierce combination of practical and academic knowledge. Bob explains that Dave didn’t write books or write a whole bunch of articles but, boy, did he know how life worked.

“He was my mentor in the truest sense.”

 Bob Blair

When Bob graduated with his Master of Political Science, and with the encouragement of Dave, he started working for the Public Works Department. Bob continued working in local government, community development, and economic development for over 10 years before returning to his alma mater.

His first job at UNO was in the Center for Public Affairs Research. While in this position he decided it was time for a change and began his doctoral studies in political science at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, taking one class at a time. He said there’s a point in your career and your life you want to take chances.

It took Bob about six years to complete his doctorate. During this time, he also taught classes for UN-L and realized that he really loved teaching. When the Department of Public Administration needed faculty slots, they looked to Bob to help fill one. Even though Dave did not encourage his wanting to become a professor, Bob said he has never regretted becoming one. “My regret is that I didn’t do this earlier.”

Bob considers himself a different kind of scholar. He explains, “It really takes a lifetime of reading and analyzing and thinking to be a true scholar. And I didn’t even get my doctorate until I was 45 years old.” He goes on, “I knew I would never be able to do that, so what I’ve always done as a scholar is really try to leverage my practical experience and my work in the field within the classroom.”

When asked what it is like to become a mentor to students he jokes, “It doesn’t happen overnight. You don’t get all this wonderful wisdom when you get your PhD.” He feels like mentoring is something that has happened in just the past five or six years. As he gets older he realizes that students look to him for advice.

Even students who have graduated years ago seek out Bob for career and life advice. The thing that makes Bob feel like he is making a difference is when students go out and make a difference in their communities. “I think that’s what it should be all about.”