Thomas Hedley Reynolds
| Thomas Hedley Reynolds | |
|---|---|
| 5th President of Bates College | |
|
In office March 1, 1967 – November 1, 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Franklin Phillips |
| Succeeded by | Donald West Harward |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 23, 1920 New York, New York |
| Died |
September 22, 2009 Lewiston, Maine |
| Alma mater |
Williams College Columbia University |
| Profession | Historian, academic, author |
Thomas Hedley Reynolds was the fifth president of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine and an American historian. He is known for widely expanding Bates' national reputation for scholarship and academic rigor. Reynolds increased faculty salaries exponentially and attracted many high quality professors. A pioneer of gender equality, he improved gender equity within the college administration as well as dramatically lowering the student to faculty ratio.
He was instrumental in the guidance of Bates College through the campus tensions of the late 1960s and 1970s with an emphasis on community engagement in the decision-making of the college.[1]
He led Bates to strengthen its faculty and curriculum, add such key facilities as a modern library and arts center, diversify its student body and eliminate the SAT requirement.[2]
Early life and education
Thomas Reynolds was born in New York to Wallace and Helen (Hedley) Reynolds. He attended The Browning School in New York City and graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1938.[3] Reynolds earned a B.A. in political science from Williams College in 1942 and then a Master's (1947) and Ph.D. (1953) in American history from Columbia University.[4]
During World War II, Reynolds served as a tank commander in Europe and received various decorations for his service.[5]
Academic career
After obtaining a Ph.D., Reynolds became an author and history professor at Middlebury College before becoming president of Bates College in 1967.
Bates College
As president Reynolds hired dozens of new professors and expanded Bates' national reputation for scholarship. He led Bates to strengthen its faculty and curriculum, add such key facilities as a modern library and arts center, diversify its student body and eliminate the SAT requirementReynolds initiated Bates' Short Term and was responsible for building many buildings on campus such as the George and Helen Ladd Library and Merrill Gymnasium. During the Vietnam era Reynolds joined with students in peacefully protesting the War. Reynolds retired in 1989. The Thomas Hedley Reynolds history professorship was endowed in Reynold's honor. Reynolds died in 2009.[6]
See also
References
- Bates College Mirror 2006 (Lewiston, ME: Bates College, 2006).
- ↑ "Thomas Hedley Reynolds | 150 Years | Bates College". www.bates.edu. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
- ↑ "President Emeritus Thomas Hedley Reynolds, champion of academic excellence, dies at 88 | News | Bates College". www.bates.edu. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
- ↑ Obituary, Duxbury News
- ↑ President Emeritus Thomas Hedley Reynolds, champion of academic excellence, dies at 88, Bates Magazine - Doug Hubley - Sep 24, 2009
- ↑ President Emeritus Thomas Hedley Reynolds, champion of academic excellence, dies at 88, Bates Magazine - Doug Hubley - Sep 24, 2009
- ↑ President Emeritus Thomas Hedley Reynolds, champion of academic excellence, dies at 88, Bates Magazine - Doug Hubley - Sep 24, 2009
| Preceded by Charles Franklin Phillips |
President of Bates College 1967-1989 |
Succeeded by Donald Harward |