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Clarence Addison Dykstra | |
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 Dykstra as chair of theNational Defense Mediation Board (1941) | |
| 3rd Provost of the University of California, Los Angeles | |
| In office 1945–1950 | |
| Preceded by | Earle Raymond Hedrick |
| Succeeded by | Raymond B. Allen(Chancellor) |
| 1st Director of theSelective Service System | |
| In office October 15, 1940 – April 1, 1941 | |
| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Lewis Blaine Hershey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1883-02-25)February 25, 1883 |
| Died | May 6, 1950(1950-05-06) (aged 67) |
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Clarence Addison Dykstra (/ˈdaɪkstrə/DYKE-strə; February 25, 1883 – May 6, 1950) was a U.S. governmentadministrator.[1] He served as city manager inCincinnati, Ohio, after teaching government at theUniversity of Chicago. He then became president of the University of Wisconsin (1937–1945) as well as the 1st Director of theSelective Service System between 1940 and 1941. He then becameprovost ofUCLA from 1945 to 1950.
He also served as the efficiency director of the city'sDepartment of Water and Power forLos Angeles beforeWorld War II. He argued that the city needed to be further decentralized by expanding highways and creating suburban communities.
Dykstra was appointed by President Roosevelt to chair the 11-memberNational Defense Mediation Board, an effort to settle wartime disputes.[2] He served from March 19 to July 1, 1941.[3]
Because Dykstra had already served as a university president before coming to UCLA, he "was incensed at what he considered demeaning treatment of the provost by UC’s universitywide administration".[4] During his five years at UCLA, he was popular and loved by the UCLA community.[4] His "death on the job was a galvanizing event at UCLA and among the southern regents" which fueled political momentum towards decentralization of the university bureaucracy.[4]
Dykstra was also the first to advocate for and bring about the construction of student housing at UCLA. Dykstra Hall, which opened in 1959, was the first structure in UCLA'scurrent undergraduate residential community. It was also the firstco-ed residence hall in the country.[5]
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| Preceded by | Chancellor of theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison 1937–1945 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by | President of theNational Municipal League 1937–1940 | Succeeded by |
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