William Leslie Hooper

William Leslie Hooper (August 2, 1855 - October 3, 1918) was the acting president of Tufts College (later Tufts University) from 1912 to 1914, between the terms of the fourth and fifth elected presidents.

Early life and education

Hooper was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1855. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Tufts in 1877, and a master of arts degree from Tufts in 1878. He also received an honorary Ph.D. in 1898 and an LL.D. in 1915, both from Tufts. Hooper was instructor of Mathematics and Applied Physics at the Bromfield School and became its principal in 1880. While at Tufts, Hooper was initiated into Theta Delta Chi.

Career at Tufts

Hooper became assistant professor of physics at Tufts in 1883, and then professor of electrical engineering in 1890. Following the resignation of Frederick W. Hamilton, Hooper was made acting president in 1912, having been commended by the Trustees for his contributions to the engineering department and his successful fundraising abilities. He served in this role through the end of 1914 until Hermon Carey Bumpus took office, at which point he returned to the department of electrical engineering.

Hooper built a residence at 124 Professors Row in 1892, known today as Hooper House, which currently houses the University Health Services. Additionally, the home of the department of electrical engineering was dedicated as the Hooper Laboratories for Electrical Engineering on June 5, 1940, and held that name until 1983, when it was rededicated as Halligan Hall.

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