Thomas B. Day

Thomas Brennock Day (born March 7, 1932)^[1] is an American scientist and university administrator who was the president of San Diego State University from 1978-1996. Born in New York City, Day attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1952. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in Physics from Cornell University in 1957. He was a research assistant and later a professor in the physics department at the University of Maryland in College Park, specializing in theoretical and experimental physics. In 1970, Day became the Vice Chancellor for Academic Planning and Policy at the College Park campus and was appointed the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the Baltimore campus, and in 1978 he was selected as the sixth president of San Diego State University^[2][3]

Facing budget shortfalls in 1992, Day proposed sharp cuts that would have eliminated whole departments and laid off faculty. In August 1992 faculty passed a vote of no confidence in Day and asked the California State University Board of Trustees to replace him.^[4] An improvement in the budget situation led to the cuts being rescinded, but Day remained unpopular on campus, and was ultimately asked to resign, ostensibly for health reasons.^[5]

Day was a member of the National Science Board from 1984 to 1996 and a vice-chairman from 1990 to 1994.^[6] He is a Senior Fellow of the California Council on Science and Technology and a former board member.^[7]

Day married Anne Kohlbrenner in 1953; they had nine children. Mrs. Day died in 2013. ^[8]

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