An Oral Interview with Gary L. Love '76 (Kamara '25)
Gary L. Love was born in April, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in the South Side of Chicago with his parents and his younger sister, Karen.
Although his father only had a high school diploma and his mother obtained a college degree later in life, his parents insisted that Mr. Love focus on his academics and pushed him to pursue college.
At an early age, Mr. Love was an excellent student and had an interest in mathematics and engineering. Dartmouth was not his first choice for education; he initially intended to study at MIT but, after a bad experience during an alumni interview, he focused his attention on other prestigious colleges.
Mr. Love's interest in Dartmouth began when he attended an event during his junior year at Kenwood High School. His late friend, Duane Gibbs '76, received the Dartmouth Book Award for having the highest SAT score in the class. Dartmouth's President, John G. Kemeny, presented the award himself, and Mr. Love took the opportunity to speak with the president during the event. This conversation sparked an interest in Dartmouth because Mr. Love wanted to attend a university led by a mathematician.
Mr. Love has lived a very succesful life. He has been the recipient of many awards, such as the Young Alumni Distinguished Service Award, the class of 1976 "Spirit Award," and the Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association (BADA) Granite Award. Mr. Love has served as an Alumni Councilor, President of the Black Alumni of Dartmouth Association, and member of the College Relations Group, Dean's Council, Young Alumni Awards Committee, and Reunion Giving Commitee.
After graduating from Dartmouth, Mr. Love attended Northwestern University to obtain an MBA. He then worked on Wall Street for many years and married Pamela Joyner '79, who became a very successful businesswoman after graduating from Dartmouth as well. Their daughter, Morgan Love, went on to attend Dartmouth and graduated in 2010. No one in the Love family falls short of Dartmouth's oldest tradition: success.
"I said to myself, any school who's led by a mathematician who teaches classes and is president of an institution is where I wanted to be. That's why I ended up choosing Dartmouth, and that's why I eventually matriculated to the school"
- Gary Love