Special Issue Memorializing Dr. Michael Scriven

2024-06-21

When Dr. Scriven died on August 28, 2023, we lost a legend and an important voice in the evaluation field. Surely, his impact will be explored for years to come. Given Scriven’s role, along with Dr. E. Jane Davidson, in founding JMDE, we created this special issue for those who knew him to say a few words about their perceptions of his impact. Our initial compass for this special issue dedicated to Scriven was three-fold. Firstly, as he was a champion of JMDE and a frequent contributor, we were in a unique position to look back through the journal’s history and summarize his published contributions. Secondly, some expressed the desire to revisit and reinvigorate some of Scriven’s contributions. Finally, we wanted to provide a venue for more personal reflections on how Scriven impacted individual lives. Taking time to reflect on personal and professional relationships with Scriven and his intellectual contributions has given contributors to this issue a way to remember and say thank you. We hope that these contributions do some justice to Dr. Michael Scriven’s legacy, remind you of his role in our discipline’s development, and focus your attention, for more than a few moments, on the intellectual giant that left us.