John Ryan
5th Chancellor of the State University of New York
In office
1996–1999
Preceded byThomas A. Bartlett
Succeeded byRobert L. King
Interim President of the University of Maryland at Baltimore
In office
1994–1994
Preceded byErrol L. Reese
Succeeded byDavid J. Ramsay
Interim President of Florida Atlantic University
In office
1989–1989
Preceded byHelen Popovich
Succeeded byAnthony J. Catanese
14th President of Indiana University
In office
1971–1987
Preceded byJoseph Sutton
Succeeded byThomas Ehrlich
1st Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Boston
In office
1965–1968
Succeeded byFrancis L. Broderick
Personal details
Born(1929-08-12)August 12, 1929
Chicago, Illinois
DiedAugust 6, 2011(2011-08-06) (aged 81)
Bloomington, Indiana
Alma materUniversity of Utah (B.A.)
Indiana University (M.A)
Indiana University (Ph.D.)
ProfessionAcademic Administrator
Websitewww.iu.edu/ryan/
Academic background
ThesisBangkok government and administration: Appearance and reality (1959)
Doctoral advisorEdwin B. McPheron
Academic work
DisciplinePolitical science
Institutions

John William Ryan (August 12, 1929 – August 6, 2011)[1] was an American academic administrator who most notably served as the President of Indiana University for sixteen years.

Early life and career

See also: University of Massachusetts Boston § 1964–1974: Park Square campus

Ryan was born in Chicago, Illinois and earned a B.A. from the University of Utah in 1951, where he was a 1950 initiate of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He earned master's and Ph.D. degrees from Indiana University in 1958 and 1959, respectively.[2][3] While in graduate school, Ryan served in two professional roles: first as a research analyst in the Kentucky Department of Revenue, then in establishing the graduate public administration program at Thammasat University. After graduating, he taught political science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 1962, he became executive assistant to the president of the University of Massachusetts Amherst before moving to Arizona State University at Tempe to assume the vice presidency for academic affairs. He returned East to serve as the first chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Boston from 1965 to 1968.[4]

Indiana University

In July 1968, Ryan returned to Indiana University to become vice president for regional campuses and became its fourteenth president on January 26, 1971. His 16 years of service to the university saw the establishment of two new IU campuses in New Albany (Indiana University Southeast) and in Richmond (Indiana University East), the formation of various cultural centers on the Bloomington campus, and the creation of the School of Journalism, the School of Continuing Studies, the School of Optometry, and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.[5] Ryan served as chairman of the NCAA Presidents Commission in the mid-1980s during the battle for control of college sports.[6]

Ryan retired in 1987 and was immediately appointed president emeritus of Indiana University. He remained an active figure within the university, both as a professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs and as a member of several boards and committees.[7]

In one of his first official acts, Ryan hired legendary men's basketball coach Bob Knight on behalf of the IU Board of Trustees in 1971.

In the 1979 film Breaking Away, he played himself as president of the university, lecturing students on their behavior at the dining hall where they fought the Cutters (a reference to stonecutters who worked in the limestone quarries in southern Indiana).

On September 4, 2009, John Ryan was awarded the University Medal, IU's highest nonacademic award. According to an IU press release, "The University Medal honors individuals for singular or noteworthy contributions, including service to the university and achievement in arts, letters, science and law. It is the only medal that requires approval by the IU Board of Trustees. The presentation was a particularly special occasion, because it was Ryan who, as president, created the University Medal in 1982, bestowing it first on Thomas T. Solley, director of the IU Art Museum. Ryan is only the tenth person to receive the medal."[8]

The State University of New York

After retiring from Indiana University, Ryan took on temporary administrative roles, acting as interim president at the University of Maryland at Baltimore and at Florida Atlantic University, and advising the Papua New Guinea Commission for Higher Education.

In 1996, Ryan stepped in to fill the Chancellorship of the State University of New York after his predecessor abruptly resigned.[9] He was asked to assume the full Chancellorship in 1997 [10] and stepped down at the end of 1999.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Former IU President John Ryan dies". WISHTV8. Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  2. ^ Ryan, John William (1959). Bangkok government and administration: Appearance and reality (Ph.D.). Indiana University. OCLC 7688710 – via ProQuest.
  3. ^ "John W. Ryan Educator Irish 1998 Recipient". Ellis Island Medals of Honor. Ellis Island Honors Society. Archived from the original on 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  4. ^ Chancellors & Provosts (1965-Present) - University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Massachusetts Boston, retrieved March 17, 2017
  5. ^ "Remembering John Ryan". Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana). Archived from the original on 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  6. ^ Rose, Laurence M. "College Presidents and the NCAA Presidents ' Commission: All Bark and No Bite". repository.law.miami.edu. University of Miami. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  7. ^ "2008-09 IU Factbook" (PDF). Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2009-05-31.
  8. ^ "IU News Room". Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana). Retrieved 2011-08-07.
  9. ^ Arenson, Karen W. (1996-07-02). "SUNY Board Chooses an Interim Chancellor". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  10. ^ Arenson, Karen W. (1997-04-10). "SUNY Seems Likely to Pick Interim Chief As Chancellor". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  11. ^ Arenson, Karen W. (1999-01-14). "SUNY's Chancellor Plans to Step Down". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
Academic offices New title Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Boston 1965–1968 Succeeded byFrancis L. Broderick Preceded byJoseph Sutton President of Indiana University January 26, 1971 – August 31, 1987 Succeeded byThomas Ehrlich Preceded byHelen Popovich Interim President of Florida Atlantic University 1989 Succeeded byAnthony J. Catanese Preceded byErrol L. Reese Interim President of the University of Maryland at Baltimore 1994 Succeeded byDavid J. Ramsay Preceded byThomas A. Bartlett Chancellor of the State University of New York July 1, 1996 – April 20, 1997 (Interim)April 21, 1997 – December 31, 1999 Succeeded byRobert L. King
Categories