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William T. Jerome Memorial Presidential Professorship Award
Initiated by Class of 1968
Learn about making a gift | Your classmates' generosity | Big news: BGSU Foundation Supports Class Gift
Dr. William T. Jerome, III, former President of BGSU 1963-1970, died Monday March 10, 2008. He was 88.
Dr. Jerome was a 1941 magna cum laude graduate of Colgate University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He attended
Yale University Law School, qualifying for the Yale Law Review. His studies were interrupted by service in the U.S. Army G-2
military intelligence during World War II. Following the War, Jerome resumed his studies at Harvard University Graduate School
of Business Administration where he earned the Master of Business Administration with distinction in 1946. The degree of Doctor
of Commercial Science was awarded to him by Harvard University in 1952.
Dr. Jerome began his career as an educational administrator at Middlebury College, serving as Assistant to the President and
as instructor of economics. In 1953 he was appointed Associate Professor of Business Administration at Syracuse University.
He also was Director of the U.S. Army Comptrollership Program conducted by Syracuse University in cooperation with the U.S.
Department of Defense. He was appointed Professor and Dean of the College of Business Administration at Syracuse in 1958.
In 1963, Dr. Jerome became the sixth President of Bowling Green State University. He led the University during the period
of its greatest academic and physical growth. The numbers of students and faculty nearly doubled to 14,000 and 720, respectively.
Nine new master's degree programs and four doctoral programs were added, as were eleven new buildings on the main campus in
Bowling Green and the only branch campus, the Firelands College, in Huron. His leadership also led BGSU through the turbulent
times of the Vietnam War protests as well as the Kent State Shooting. Under Jerome’s leadership, BGSU was the only state university
in Ohio to remain open after the shooting. In tribute to his contributions, the University's Board of Trustees dedicated William
Travers Jerome Library, the centerpiece of his administration. He also received the University Alumni Association's Honorary
Alumnus Award and honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Bowling Green State University.
Dr. Jerome became a special consultant and Vice President for Academic Affairs in 1970 to Florida International University
to assist in the establishment of that institution, which opened in 1972. After various administrative roles, he returned
to the teaching faculty as Distinguished Professor of Management, a position he held for 25 years until his retirement.
What is an Endowed Professorship?
An endowed professorship provides salary support necessary to supplement the salaries of current outstanding faculty members
or to attract leading tenure track scholars to teach at BGSU. These positions lead to greater skill and expertise among faculty
and staff as well as a more powerful educational experience for the student body. The impact of a well-known professor can
in many circumstances generate positive national attention for the University allowing for stronger student recruitment.
Why fund professorial support?
The heartbeat of a University like BGSU is the Faculty. The BGSU Faculty fosters intellectual growth and creative energy that
combine to develop a spectacular educational experience. The BGSU Professor is easy to find, willing to share and eager to
work in partnership with students.
Of BGSU’s more that 800 full-time faculty, over 80% of them hold the highest degree available in their field with 17 faculty
recognized as Master Teachers and 24 as Fulbright Scholars. They consider teaching a high priority while also earning national
recognition for research, public service and academic excellence. Unfortunately, the above attributes also make our faculty
attractive to other academic institutions and the private sector. In today’s competitive hiring marketplace, endowed chairs/professorships
are essential for BGSU to attract and retain the brightest faculty.
• A typical tenured professor at a public university will educate and influence thousands of undergraduate and many graduate
students over the course of an individual’s career.
• Endowed professorships are an essential component for BGSU to remain “the premier educational institution in Ohio” as stated
by our mission statement.
• Assist BGSU’s national reputation for excellence in education.
• Help recruit, hire and retain the leading chairs and professors to teach our students is critical (remember the professors
that had a profound impact on you).
• The more talented the faculty and staff are the more likely students will be attracted to becoming a part of the BGSU experience.
How will the Presidential Professorship be Awarded?
This endowed professorship will be awarded by the current BGSU president to a professor who demonstrates similar values and
leadership of President Jerome. Dr. Jerome’s bold leadership, commitment to student and faculty learning and achievement,
and personal statesmanship are qualities the Class of 1968 wishes to endure at BGSU. The professorship will be awarded to
recruit a tenure track professor or as salary enhancement for a tenured professor. In order for this gift to empower the University
the award will rotate on a three year cycle as appointed by the current president.
Your classmates' generosity
Following is the current list of 1968 graduates contributing to the William T. Jerome Memorial Professorship Award:
| John, Ruth Ann & Conrad Allison |
Suzanne Moldovan |
| Susan K. Appel |
Ronald Moor |
| Robert A. Bardwell |
Alyce Mott |
| Janice L. La Bonte |
David Norwine |
| Alan Brauer |
Bruce E. Nyberg |
| David Breese |
Bob Olive |
| Melvin Browning |
Geoffrey & Linda Radbill |
| Roger & Lana Buehrer |
Emil & Martha Ragones |
| Ronald G. Clark |
Betty Riedinger |
| Gay Lynn Clasen |
John M. Rigby |
| H. Bruce Dukeman |
Ruth Ann & Conrad Rinto |
| Brian and Sandy Dundon |
Dale & Elaine (Becky) Saylor |
| Gene Farison |
Beverly Severns |
| Roger E.R. Holliday and Claudia Fischer |
Edward C. Sewell |
| Bruce S. Fisher |
Shirley Shane |
| Todd Fisher |
Scott Sherk |
| Rick Helwig |
Allen Shinaberry |
| Sharon Herzer |
John Shook |
| John & Barb Hinton |
Mark Shoup |
| Gerald Holman |
Wilma Smith-Gerber |
| Dennis Horstman |
Drs. Charles and Judith Sommers |
| Jeanne Huffman |
Paul Stankavich |
| Rosemary Kovac |
Susan Verbaan |
| Mike Kuhlin |
Fran Voll |
| James E. Logan |
Richard Walker |
| Gordon MacDonald |
Annette Wicks |
| Don Marino |
Harold Wyndham |
| Kathryn B. Martinez |
Artie & Charles Zaller |
| David F. McCormick |
Carol L. Zook |
| Gary McKenzie |
Dr. Ron Zwierlein |
Making a gift
 To make a gift online using your credit card, please click here. Please note that you must enter "Class of 1968" in the "Others" field at the bottom of the form that follows.
Call Ken McIntyre, BGSU Alumni & Development, directly at (419) 372-7699 or e-mail him at kmcinty@bgsu.edu.
Contact a member of the 1968 Class Gift committee via e-mail:
Class Gift Committee
Rick Helwig
David Norwine
Ron Zwierlein
Interested in attending the Reunion? Please let us know by completing the form located here or calling (888) 839-2586. See you in the fall!
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