John A. Hannah | |
|---|---|
 Hannah at a USAID ceremony in 1969 | |
| Born | (1902-10-09)October 9, 1902 |
| Died | February 23, 1991(1991-02-23) (aged 88) |
| Title | President ofMichigan State University |
| Term | 1941–1969 |
| Signature | |
 | |
John Alfred Hannah (October 9, 1902 – February 23, 1991) was president ofMichigan State College (laterMichigan State University) for 28 years (1941–1969), making him the longest serving of MSU's presidents. He is credited with transforming the school from a regional undergraduate college into a large national research institution. After his resignation from the university, Hannah became head of theUnited States Agency for International Development (USAID).
A native ofGrand Rapids, Hannah was most noted for expanding Michigan State from a respected regional undergraduate-oriented institution into a comprehensive nationalresearch university, and for helping to get Michigan State into theBig Ten Conference. He was also the first chairman of theUnited States Commission on Civil Rights.[1]
Hannah became president of Michigan State College in 1941. He thus began the largest expansion in the school's history, with the help of the 1945G.I. Bill, which helpedWorld War IIveterans get an education. During this time the university grew by leaps and bounds to accommodate an ever-growing influx of students. One of Hannah's strategies was to build a newresidence hall, enroll enough students to fill it, and use the income to start construction on a new dormitory. Under Hannah's plan, enrollment increased from 15,000 in 1950 to 38,000 in 1965.[2]
John A. Hannah | |
|---|---|
| 4thAdministrator of the United States Agency for International Development | |
| In office 1969–1973 | |
| Preceded by | William Gaud |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Parker |
While he worked on increasing the size of M.S.C.'s student body, Hannah also expanded the institution from a college of regional reputation into a nationally recognizedresearch university. When theUniversity of Chicago eliminated itsathletics and resigned from what is now theBig Ten Conference in 1946, Hannah lobbied hard to take its place. The Big Ten finally admitted M.S.C. in 1950. Five years later, on the College'scentennial year of 1955, the State of Michigan made it auniversity.[3] In 1957 he continued M.S.U.'s expansion co-founding Michigan State University–Oakland (nowOakland University) withMatilda Dodge Wilson. The Hannah Hall of Science on Oakland University's campus is named for him.[4] Michigan State University continued to expand throughout the 1960s, completing its newest dormitory in 1967. None have been built since.
By 1969,Vietnam-era protests had completely reshaped the university. Much of the controversy surrounded Hannah and the University's involvement in Vietnam with theMichigan State University Group (MSUG). Hannah was accused of being responsible for allowing theCIA to involve itself in MSUG.[5] Hannah resigned to become the head ofUSAID.
The John A. Hannah Distinguished Professorship at Michigan State University was established in 1966.[6]
As part of itssesquicentennial celebration, MSU erected a 7-foot bronze statue of Hannah in front of his namesake administration building on September 17, 2004, sculpted by California artistBruce Wolfe.[7][8]
Additionally,the football team retired the number 46 in honor of 46 years of service to the university.
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help){{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President ofMichigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science 1941–1955 | Succeeded by Himself |
| Preceded by Himself | President ofMichigan State University of Agriculture and Applied Science 1955–1964 | Succeeded by Himself |
| Preceded by Himself | President ofMichigan State University 1964–1969 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Agency Founded | Chairman of theUnited States Commission on Civil Rights 1958–1969 | Succeeded by |
Located in:East Lansing, Michigan | |||||||||
| Academics | |||||||||
| Athletics |
| ||||||||
| Campus | |||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| Research | |||||||||
| People | |||||||||
| Student life | |||||||||
| |||||||||
