Cornelius M. Kerwin
Encyclopedia
Cornelius M. "Neil" Kerwin (born April 10, 1949) is an American
educator in public administration
and president of American University
.
A 1971 undergraduate alumnus of American University, Kerwin continued his education with a Master of Arts degree
in political science
from the University of Rhode Island
in 1973. In 1975, Kerwin returned to his alma mater
and joined the faculty of the American University School of Public Affairs
, then the School of Government and Public Administration. Kerwin completed his doctorate
in political science from Johns Hopkins University
in 1978 and continued to teach until 1989, when he became the dean
of the school.
He continued in that post until 1997, when he was named American University's provost
. During his tenure as provost, Kerwin oversaw a number of major changes including the tightening of graduate and doctoral programs, the foundation of the University College Program, and comprehensive reviews and overhauls of the General Education Program, University Honors Program and academic advising. Kerwin put his understanding of policy implementation to use in executing segments of then-University President Benjamin Ladner
's 15-Point Plan, including the establishment of a new faculty senate.
Following the American University Board of Trustees' decision to suspend Ladner on August 25, 2005, Kerwin was named Interim President. He held that post through the Board's investigation and subsequent removal of Ladner. He was named to permanently replace Ladner on July 20, 2007.http://domino.american.edu/AU/media/mediarel.nsf/1D265343BDC2189785256B810071F238/71C79F0822CBE3748525731E005F9567?OpenDocument Kerwin is the first American University alumnus to serve as its University President.
Kerwin's academic work focuses on public policy, administrative and regulatory processes and implementation and American government. He is the author of Rulemaking: How Government Agencies Write Law and Make Policy and coauthor of How Washington Works: The Executive's Guide to Government.
In the Chronicle of Higher Education survey of college presidents' salaries for 2007-08, he was fifth in the nation with a compensation of $1.4 million.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator in public administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
and president of American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
.
A 1971 undergraduate alumnus of American University, Kerwin continued his education with a Master of Arts degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
in 1973. In 1975, Kerwin returned to his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
and joined the faculty of the American University School of Public Affairs
American University School of Public Affairs
The American University School of Public Affairs houses three academic departments - Public Administration & Policy, Government, Justice, Law, & Society - as well as the , a research unit jointly sponsored with the School of International Service....
, then the School of Government and Public Administration. Kerwin completed his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in political science from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1978 and continued to teach until 1989, when he became the dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the school.
He continued in that post until 1997, when he was named American University's provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
. During his tenure as provost, Kerwin oversaw a number of major changes including the tightening of graduate and doctoral programs, the foundation of the University College Program, and comprehensive reviews and overhauls of the General Education Program, University Honors Program and academic advising. Kerwin put his understanding of policy implementation to use in executing segments of then-University President Benjamin Ladner
Benjamin Ladner
Benjamin Mance Ladner, Ph.D. is an academic expert in the fields of philosophy and religion. He was president of the National Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Sciences from 1980–1994 and American University from 1994-2005.His areas of professional interest and research are international relations...
's 15-Point Plan, including the establishment of a new faculty senate.
Following the American University Board of Trustees' decision to suspend Ladner on August 25, 2005, Kerwin was named Interim President. He held that post through the Board's investigation and subsequent removal of Ladner. He was named to permanently replace Ladner on July 20, 2007.http://domino.american.edu/AU/media/mediarel.nsf/1D265343BDC2189785256B810071F238/71C79F0822CBE3748525731E005F9567?OpenDocument Kerwin is the first American University alumnus to serve as its University President.
Kerwin's academic work focuses on public policy, administrative and regulatory processes and implementation and American government. He is the author of Rulemaking: How Government Agencies Write Law and Make Policy and coauthor of How Washington Works: The Executive's Guide to Government.
In the Chronicle of Higher Education survey of college presidents' salaries for 2007-08, he was fifth in the nation with a compensation of $1.4 million.