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List of presidents of Iowa State University

Following are presidents of Iowa State University.

Presidents of Iowa State University

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Adonijah Welch

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Adonijah Welch

Adonijah Strong Welch (April 12, 1821 – March 13, 1889) was the 1st president of ISU. Born in East Hampton, Connecticut and died in Pasadena, California.

Education:

Achievements:

  • First principal of Michigan State Normal School (Eastern Michigan University) from 1852 to 1865
  • Senator (RepublicanR-FL) June 17, 1868 to March 3, 1869 (declined renomination to accept presidency @ ISU)
  • 1st ISU president from 1868 to 1883
    • Design of early campus
    • Helped develop agriculture and mechanical arts courses
  • History of civilization and practical psychology chair from 1884 until death

Welch's first wife was Eunice P. Buckingham (married in 1859) and had three children. After Eunice's death in 1867 he married Mary Beaumont Dudley in 1868 and had two more children.

Mary established the first courses in what would become the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.[1][2]

Welch Avenue, one of the main streets in the Campustown area of Ames, is named for Welch.

Seaman A. Knapp

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Seaman A. Knapp

Seaman Asahal Knapp (December 16, 1833 – April 1, 1911) was the 2nd president of ISU. Born in northern New York.

Education:

Achievements:

Knapp and his wife Maria Elizabeth Hotchkiss were married in 1856 and had six children.[3]

Knapp Street, near the ISU campus, is named for Knapp. A former residence hall named after Knapp was demolished in 2005.[4]

Leigh S. J. Hunt

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Leigh S. J. Hunt

Leigh Smith John Hunt (August 1855 – October 5, 1933) was the 3rd president of ISU. Born in Indiana and died in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Education:

Achievements:

  • Taught in a public school in Indiana
  • Superintendent of Mount Pleasant, Iowa schools in 1880
  • Superintendent of East Des Moines Independent School District, Des Moines, Iowa in 1882
  • 3rd ISU president from February 1885 to July 1886
  • Business man:
    • Newspaper publisher 1886
    • Real estate developer
    • Bank president
    • Operated a gold mine in Korea in 1893
    • Grew cotton in Sudan from 1904 to 1910
    • Mining, agriculture, and land development in Las Vegas, Nevada

Hunt and his wife Jessie Noble were married in 1885 and had two children, Helen & Henry.[5]

Hunt Street, near the ISU campus, is named for Hunt.[6]

William I. Chamberlain

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William I. Chamberlain

William Isaac Chamberlain (1837 – June 30, 1920) was the 4th president of ISU. Born in Sharon, Connecticut and died in Cleveland, Ohio.

Education:

Achievements:

  • Greek instructor at Western Reserve College after graduation from 1859 to 1865
  • Experimented agriculturally with fertilizers, drainage, & crop rotation
  • State Secretary of Agriculture of Ohio 1880 to 1886
  • 4th ISU president from July 1886 to November 1890
  • Board of Trustees of Ohio State University and Ohio Experiment Station
  • Associate editor of the Ohio Farmer and National Stockman and Farmer

Chamberlain and his wife Lucy Jones Marshall were married on July 16, 1863 and had six children.[7]

Chamberlain Street, in the campustown area of Ames, is named for Chamberlain.[6]

William M. Beardshear

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William Miller Beardshear (1850–1902) was the 5th president of ISU. Born in Ohio and died in 1902 from complications of a heart attack.

 
W.M. Beardshear[8]

Education:

Achievements:

  • During the Civil War, he joined the Union army at the age of 14
  • President of Western College in Toledo, Iowa
  • Superintendent of schools in West Des Moines, Iowa
  • 5th ISU president from February 1891 to August 1902
    • Developed new agricultural programs
    • Hired notable faculty:
    • Following buildings added:
    • School colors of cardinal & gold named
    • 1st Bomb (yearbook) was published in 1893
    • Became known as the Cyclones in 1895[9]

Beardshear Hall, on the ISU campus, is named for Beardshear. It houses university administrative offices including those of the president and the provost.[10]

Albert B. Storms

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Albert B. Storms

Albert Boynton Storms (April 1, 1860 – July 1, 1933) was the 6th president of ISU. Born in Lima Center, Michigan and died in Berea, Ohio.

Education:

Achievements:

A former residence hall named after Storms was demolished in 2005.[4]

Raymond A. Pearson

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Raymond Allan Pearson

Raymond A. Pearson (1873–1939) was the 7th president of ISU.

Education:

Achievements:

Pearson Hall, on the ISU campus, is named for Pearson. It houses the World Languages and Cultures department and the Graduate College.[13] Pearson Avenue, near the ISU campus, is also named for Pearson.[6]

Raymond M. Hughes

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Raymond Mollyneaux Hughes (1873–1958) was the 8th president of ISU. Born in Atlantic, Iowa and grew up in southwestern Ohio.

Education:

Achievement:

  • Professor of physics and chemistry at Miami University from 1898 to 1904
  • Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Miami University from 1908 to 1911
  • President of Miami University from 1911 to 1927
  • 8th ISU president from 1927 to 1936
  • Retired in 1936; continued research and teaching in Ames

Hughes married his 1st wife Ella Rogers in 1908 and after her death in 1933 he then married Helen Richardson Idsardi in 1938.[14]

Hughes Avenue, near the ISU campus, and the former Hughes Hall were both named for Hughes.[6]

Charles E. Friley

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Charles Edwin Friley (1887–1958) was the 9th president of ISU. Born in Louisiana to Ellen Douglas Friley and William Christopher Friley, who was the first president of Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, and the second president of Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana

Education:

Achievements:

  • Registrar of Texas A&M University (1912–1924)
  • Dean of School of Arts & Sciences at Texas A&M University (1924–1932)
  • Dean of the Division of Science at ISU (1932–1935)
  • Vice-president of ISU (1935–1936)
  • 9th president of ISU from 1936 to 1953
    • Term lasted from the end of the Great Depression through World War II
    • Established the first educationally-owned/operated television station
  • Honorary doctorate from ISU (1958)
  • Mason
  • Fellow of the Iowa Academy of Science
  • National Council of Presbyterian Men
  • Iowa State Fair Board
  • Iowa Geological Society
  • Sigma Alpha Epsilon
  • Phi Kappa Phi
  • Phi Mu Alpha

He was married three times:

  • 1913 to Nina Lynn Wood who died in 1918 but had two sons: Charles Edwin, Jr. & William Alva
  • 1921 to Vera Foreman who died in 1947 but had one daughter: Frances Foreman (Kuyper)
  • 1951 to Magdalen Ranney[15]

Friley Road, near the ISU campus, and Friley Hall are both named for Friley.[6] Friley Hall is one of the largest university residence halls in the United States.[16]

James H. Hilton

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James H. Hilton (1899–1982) was the 10th president of ISU.

Education:

Achievements:

  • County agent for Greene County (1923–1926)
  • In charge of dairy production teaching & research at Purdue University (1939)
  • Assistant chief of the dairy husbandry (1940–1945)
  • Head of animal husbandry at North Carolina State (1945–1948)
  • Dean of Agriculture at North Carolina State (1948–1953)
  • 10th president of ISU from 1953 to 1965
    • Enrollment soared from 7,800 to 12,400
    • Value of the university increased from $38 to $471 million
    • Research rose to $20 million
    • Name change from Iowa State College to Iowa State University of Science & Technology in 1959
  • Director of development (1965 – ?)
  • Adelante Fraternity

He had two wives:

  • Lois Baker who died in 1969 but had three children: Eleanor, Helen, & James G.
  • Helen LeBaron (retired Dean of the College of Home Economics))[17]

James H. Hilton Coliseum, on the ISU campus, is named for Hilton. It is the home of university athletic events including men's and women's basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and gymnastics.[18] It has also hosted concerts, conferences, and other cultural and social events.

W. Robert Parks

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W. Robert Parks

William Robert Parks (1915–2003) was the 11th and longest-serving president of ISU.

Education:

Achievements:

  • Research & administration with the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (1940–1948)
  • Lieutenant of the United States Navy during World War II
  • Professor of government at ISU (1948–1956)
  • Professor of agricultural economics at University of Wisconsin–Madison (1956–1958)
  • Dean of Instruction at ISU (1958–1961)
  • Vice President of Academic Affairs (1961–1965)
  • 11th president of ISU from 1965 to 1986
    • Head of National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges
    • Head of Association of American Universities
    • Head of Council of Presidents
    • Head of Mid-American State Universities Association
    • Head of Association of Iowa College Presidents
    • Member of the board of trustees of the Teachers Insurance and Annuities-College Retirement Equities Fund
    • On board of directors of Norwestern Bell
    • On board of directors of Central Life Assurance
  • Honorary doctorate from Bear College (1966)
  • Honorary doctorate from Westmar College (1968)
  • Honorary doctorate from Drake University (1968)
  • Named honorary alumnus of ISU (1969)
  • Honorary doctorate from University of Kentucky (1973)
  • Library named W. Robert and Ellen Sorge Parks Library (1984)
  • Received the first Christian Petersen Design Award for his leadership in establishing the College of Design
  • Member of FarmHouse Fraternity

He married Ellen Sorge (1914–1999) and had two daughters: Andrea (Van Howeling) and Cynthia (Hamilton). Ellen was the first woman to receive a PhD in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[19]

W. Robert and Ellen Sorge Parks Library, the main library on the ISU campus, is named for Parks and his wife.[20]

Gordon P. Eaton

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Gordon Pryor Eaton

Gordon Pryor Eaton (1929–2022) was the 12th president of ISU.

Education:

Achievements:

Eaton Hall, one of ISU's residence halls, is named for Eaton.[22]

Martin C. Jischke

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Martin C. Jischke

Martin C. Jischke was the 13th president of Iowa State, serving from June 1, 1991 to August 14, 2000.

The Martin C. Jischke Honors Building, on the ISU campus, is named for Jischke. It is the home of the University Honors Program.[23]

Gregory L. Geoffroy

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Gregory L. Geoffroy was the 14th president of Iowa State. He took office on July 1, 2001 and served as president until January 2012. He remains on the Iowa State faculty.

Education:

Achievements:

  • Officer in the United States Navy (1969–1970)
  • Assistant professor of chemistry at Pennsylvania State University (1974–1978)
  • Associate professor of chemistry at Pennsylvania State University (1978–1982)
  • Professor of chemistry at Pennsylvania State University (1982–1988)
  • Head of the department of chemistry at Pennsylvania State University (1988–1989)
  • Dean of the Eberly College of Science at Pennsylvania State University (1989–1997)
  • Senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at University of Maryland, College Park (1997–2001)
  • President of Iowa State University (2001 – 2011)

Geoffroy is married to Kathleen Carothers Geoffroy and has four children.

Iowa State's newest residence hall, Gregory L. Geoffroy Hall (or simply Geoffroy Hall), is named for the former president. It was opened to students in December 2016.[24]

Steven Leath

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Steven Leath

Steven Leath was named the president-elect of Iowa State University on September 27, 2011. He took office as the 15th president of the university on January 16, 2012. He was formerly vice president for research and sponsored programs for the University of North Carolina system.

Education:

Wendy Wintersteen

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Wendy Wintersteen

Wendy Wintersteen was named president of Iowa State University on October 23, 2017, and assumed the position on November 20, 2017.

Wintersteen earned a bachelor of science in crop protection (1978) from Kansas State University and her doctorate in entomology (1988) from Iowa State.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Adonijah Strong Welch Papers, RS 2/1, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  2. ^ Congressional biography
  3. ^ Seaman Asahel Knapp Papers, RS 2/2, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  4. ^ a b Storms Hall and Knapp Hall Demolition
  5. ^ Leigh Smith John Hunt Papers, RS 2/3, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  6. ^ a b c d e For Whom it is Named
  7. ^ William Isaac Chamberlain Papers, RS 2/4, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  8. ^ Donovan, Henry. "Chicago Eagle". Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  9. ^ William Miller Beardshear, Papers, Dates, RS 2/5, (University Archives) Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  10. ^ ISU Foundation - Beardshear Hall
  11. ^ Albert Boynton Storms Papers, 1902–1983, RS 2/6, University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.
  12. ^ Raymond A. Pearson Papers, RS 02/07, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  13. ^ Building Information: Pearson Hall
  14. ^ Raymond M. Hughes Papers, RS 02/08, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  15. ^ Charles E. Friley Papers, Dates, RS 2/9, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  16. ^ Department of Residence - Friley Hall
  17. ^ James H. Hilton Papers, Dates, RS 2/10, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  18. ^ Hilton Coliseum information Archived February 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ W. Robert Parks Papers, RS 2/11, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  20. ^ People of Distinction - W. Robert Parks
  21. ^ Gordon P. Eaton Papers, RS 2/12, (University Archives) Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  22. ^ Department of Residence - Eaton Hall
  23. ^ Martin C. Jischke Honors Building
  24. ^ "Geoffroy Hall opens doors to new residents". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
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