List of Presidents of Iowa State University

Following are presidents of Iowa State University.

Presidents of Iowa State University

Adonijah Welch

Adonijah Welch

Dr. 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:

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

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

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

Education:

Achievements:

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

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

Education:

Achievements:

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

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

Education:

Achievements:

Beardshear Hall, on the ISU campus, is named for Beardshear. It houses university administrative offices including those of the president and the provost.[9]

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

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 Theater, Foreign Language, and Computer Engineering departments.[12] Pearson Avenue, near the ISU campus, is also named for Pearson.[6]

Raymond M. Hughes

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

Education:

Achievement:

Hughes married his 1st wife Ella Rogers in 1908 and after her death in 1933 he then married Helen Richardson Idsardi in 1938.[13]

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

Charles E. Friley

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:

He was married three times:

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.[15]

James H. Hilton

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

Education:

Achievements:

He had two wives:

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.[17] It has also hosted concerts, conferences, and other cultural and social events.

W. Robert Parks

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

Education:

Achievements:

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.[18]

W. Robert and Ellen Sorge Parks Library, the main library on the ISU campus, is named for Parks and his wife.[19]

Gordon P. Eaton

Gordon Pryor Eaton

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

Education:

Achievements:

Eaton Hall, one of ISU's residence halls, is named for Eaton.[21]

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.[22]

Gregory L. Geoffroy

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:

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

Steven Leath

Dr.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:

See also

References

  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. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Storms Hall and Knapp Hall Demolition
  5. ↑ Leigh Smith John Hunt Papers, RS 2/3, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 For Whom it is Named
  7. ↑ William Isaac Chamberlain Papers, RS 2/4, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  8. ↑ William Miller Beardshear, Papers, Dates, RS 2/5, (University Archives) Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  9. ↑ ISU Foundation - Beardshear Hall
  10. ↑ Albert Boynton Storms Papers, 1902–1983, RS 2/6, University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.
  11. ↑ Raymond A. Pearson Papers, RS 02/07, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  12. ↑ Building Information: Pearson Hall
  13. ↑ Raymond M. Hughes Papers, RS 02/08, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  14. ↑ Charles E. Friley Papers, Dates, RS 2/9, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  15. ↑ Department of Residence - Friley Hall
  16. ↑ James H. Hilton Papers, Dates, RS 2/10, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  17. ↑ Hilton Coliseum information
  18. ↑ W. Robert Parks Papers, RS 2/11, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  19. ↑ People of Distinction - W. Robert Parks
  20. ↑ Gordon P. Eaton Papers, RS 2/12, (University Archives) Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library
  21. ↑ Department of Residence - Eaton Hall
  22. ↑ Martin C. Jischke Honors Building