Dorothy Goodwin


Dorothy Cheney Goodwin was an American educator and politician.

Early life

Born in Hartford, Connecticut and daughter of Charles Goodwin, writer of the legislation establishing the Metropolitan District Commission, Goodwin attended The Oxford School and Milton Academy in Milton, MA. She graduated magna cum laude from Smith College with a BA in sociology in 1937.

Education

In 1957, Goodwin received her doctorate degree in agricultural economics from the University of Connecticut. From 1957 to 1969. Goodwin taught economics at The University of Connecticut and was assistant provost. She retired in 1974, and in 1975, she was elected to the 54th District Connecticut General Assembly. Then from 1984 to 1990, Goodwin served on the Connecticut State Board of Educationas chair of the Education Committee.

Career

Goodwin worked in the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 1937 to 1939 and the Bureau of Agricultural Economics from 1939 to 1942. During World War II Goodwin worked in the Department of Economic Warfare in India. From 1947 to 1951, Goodwin served as a government agricultural economist in Japan.

Accomplishments

Dorothy Goodwin received her greatest recognition as a lawmaker, leader of the compromise that caused reorganization in higher education. After retiring as co-chair of The General Assembly's Education Commission, Goodwin was designated to the Connecticut State Board of Education. She served on the board of trustees at Hartford College and the board of regents at The University of Hartford.
She was awarded the Connecticut Humanities Council's Wilbur Cross Award in 1991 for distinguished scholarship and public service teaching. Goodwin died in her home in Bloomfield, Connecticut. In 2007, a portion of her estate was given to the UCONN foundation which established the Dorothy C. Goodwin Fund for Teacher Preparation to enhance the quality of teachers.