Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean '66 Speaks at Browning

On October 29, the Alumni Association welcomed back Governor Howard Dean '66 as the featured guest of this year's Class of 2000 Distinguished Speaker Series. Upon arrival at Browning, Governor Dean's first stop was a visit with Key Society students and an interview with The Grytte, the student newspaper. He then spoke in the Wilson Room to a private roundtable for alumni Annual Fund donors. Chatham House Rules were in effect, so the Governor spoke freely and off the record on a range of topics including Ebola, the NRA, medical marijuana and more.

Following the roundtable, more than 125 alumni, parents, trustees, faculty and friends gathered in the Lower Gym to hear Governor Dean's keynote address, "Insights on the 2014 Midterm Elections," including a Q&A discussion at the end. With the midterms happening the following week, the timing of Governor Dean's talk could not have been better and the audience had a number of questions for him. He outlined the tightest races, the best campaigns and the differences in messaging from the Republican and Democratic parties. He also praised Headmaster Clement's leadership of the School and reminisced on some of his favorite Browning memories, which included stories about former Headmaster Charles W. Cook '38, and former faculty members Clair J. Smith and Mrs. MacMillan. 

Governor Dean currently works as a part-time independent consultant focusing on healthcare, early childhood development, alternative energy and the expansion of grassroots politics. He is also the founder of Democracy for America, a contributor for MSNBC and a board member of the National Democratic Institute. Formerly, he was Vermont's second-longest serving governor for 12 years, a presidential candidate in 2004, chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a practicing physician. 

He attended Browning for seven years, followed by St. George’s School, Yale University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In 1992, he received Browning’s Charles W. Cook '38 Alumnus Achievement Award, the highest distinction awarded to Browning alumni. His brother, James H. Dean ’72, is also a Browning alumnus, as is his late father, Howard B. Dean, Jr. ’38 and his late brother, Charles M. Dean ’68. Governor Dean is married to Dr. Judy Steinberg, and they have two children, Anne and Paul.

This event was established by the Class of 2000 upon the occasion of its 10th Browning Reunion, in an effort to bring interesting speakers to the community. Prior guests include renowned short-seller James S. Chanos in 2012, and former Wall Street Journal columnist R. Thomas Herman '64 in 2013. We are grateful for Governor Dean's participation, and to all who attended in support of this Alumni Association event!