David C. Knapp
Encyclopedia
David C. Knapp was an American educational administrator.
Knapp was born in Syracuse, New York
, in 1927, and received his B.A. in political science from Syracuse University
in 1947. He entered the University of Chicago
; earning his M.A. in 1948. Knapp served in the U.S. Army's Second Armored Division in Ft. Hood, Texas and West Germany from 1950 to 1952 and returned to Chicago to complete his Ph.D. in political science in 1953.
Knapp joined the faculty of the University of New Hampshire
in 1953 as an assistant professor of government. From 1955 to 1961, he assumed the duties of assistant to the president in addition to that of associate professor. He served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at UNH for 1961-1962. His research interests included intergovernmental relations, natural resources policy, and comparative administration. During his tenure at UNH, he took leaves as a Fulbright Scholar in Finland
and a Bullard Fellow at Harvard University
.
In 1963, Knapp became associate director of the Study of American Colleges of Agriculture. The study was financed by the Carnegie Corporation, and was based at the University of Maryland, College Park
. While still working on the study, Dr. Knapp became director of the Institute of College & University Administrators of the American Council on Education
. He left both posts in 1968 to accept an appointment as dean of the New York State College of Home Economics
. He proposed changing its name to the New York State College of Human Ecology, and Knapp was the first male to hold the post, a position he held until being appointed Cornell University
provost in 1974 under President Dale Corson. Knapp addressed reductions in state funding, campus activism, and the expanding expectations of women students. He organized the merger of the Human Ecology College with a separate Graduate School of Nutrition.
In 1978, Knapp left Cornell to become president of the University of Massachusetts
where he served until 1990. As president of UMass from 1978 to 1990, Knapp worked to improve the academic reputation of the university and to expand its role in economic development and international relations. In his inaugural address, he stated that the American people had created a social compact with higher education to improve the condition of society, and during his presidency he sought to renew the social purpose of the university after a more than a decade of internal turmoil.
Under his leadership, UMass worked to support the growth of technology industries in the Commonwealth through the establishment of a Polymer Science Research Center and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Institute. Knapp made the university a pioneer in distance learning through the creation of the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications. After a decade as president, Knapp organized a commission on the future of the university. The Commission's recommendations led to the consolidation of two other public universities into the UMass system, expanding the system from three to five campuses.
Knapp also sought to enhance the university's international profile by strengthening existing relationships with universities in Japan and Germany, and developing new relationships with Russia and China. He also broadened the university's long-standing ties with Japan's Hokkaido University
into a sister state agreement between Massachusetts and Hokkaido. For this effort, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun
by the Emperor of Japan in 1990. He also was awarded the Staufer Medal by the government of Baden-Württemberg
in 1992 for his efforts to promote development and trade between Massachusetts and Baden-Württemberg.
After his retirement as president of UMass in 1990, Knapp was named President Emeritus of the University and served as the Ralph Waldo Emerson Professor until 1993. During his retirement, Knapp served on the governing boards of several organizations, including:
New England Board of Higher Education
1987-2006, Chair 1998-2000
Massachusetts Hokkaido Association 1987-2000, Chair 1987-1993
Japan Society of Boston 1994-2000, President 1996-2000
Renaissance Charter School of Boston 1994-2005, Chair 1994-2000
Marlboro Music Festival 2000-2010
Knapp was born in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, in 1927, and received his B.A. in political science from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
in 1947. He entered the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
; earning his M.A. in 1948. Knapp served in the U.S. Army's Second Armored Division in Ft. Hood, Texas and West Germany from 1950 to 1952 and returned to Chicago to complete his Ph.D. in political science in 1953.
Knapp joined the faculty of the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
in 1953 as an assistant professor of government. From 1955 to 1961, he assumed the duties of assistant to the president in addition to that of associate professor. He served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at UNH for 1961-1962. His research interests included intergovernmental relations, natural resources policy, and comparative administration. During his tenure at UNH, he took leaves as a Fulbright Scholar in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and a Bullard Fellow at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
In 1963, Knapp became associate director of the Study of American Colleges of Agriculture. The study was financed by the Carnegie Corporation, and was based at the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. While still working on the study, Dr. Knapp became director of the Institute of College & University Administrators of the American Council on Education
American Council on Education
The American Council on Education is a United States organization, established in 1918, comprising over 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations....
. He left both posts in 1968 to accept an appointment as dean of the New York State College of Home Economics
Cornell University College of Human Ecology
The New York State College of Human Ecology is a statutory college at Cornell University. The college is a unique compilation of studies on consumer science, nutrition, health economics, public policy, human development and textiles, each part of the discipline of human ecology.Students at the...
. He proposed changing its name to the New York State College of Human Ecology, and Knapp was the first male to hold the post, a position he held until being appointed Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
provost in 1974 under President Dale Corson. Knapp addressed reductions in state funding, campus activism, and the expanding expectations of women students. He organized the merger of the Human Ecology College with a separate Graduate School of Nutrition.
In 1978, Knapp left Cornell to become president of the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
where he served until 1990. As president of UMass from 1978 to 1990, Knapp worked to improve the academic reputation of the university and to expand its role in economic development and international relations. In his inaugural address, he stated that the American people had created a social compact with higher education to improve the condition of society, and during his presidency he sought to renew the social purpose of the university after a more than a decade of internal turmoil.
Under his leadership, UMass worked to support the growth of technology industries in the Commonwealth through the establishment of a Polymer Science Research Center and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Institute. Knapp made the university a pioneer in distance learning through the creation of the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications. After a decade as president, Knapp organized a commission on the future of the university. The Commission's recommendations led to the consolidation of two other public universities into the UMass system, expanding the system from three to five campuses.
Knapp also sought to enhance the university's international profile by strengthening existing relationships with universities in Japan and Germany, and developing new relationships with Russia and China. He also broadened the university's long-standing ties with Japan's Hokkaido University
Hokkaido University
Hokkaido University is one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It can be seen in the several rankings such as shown below.-General Rankings:...
into a sister state agreement between Massachusetts and Hokkaido. For this effort, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
by the Emperor of Japan in 1990. He also was awarded the Staufer Medal by the government of Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
in 1992 for his efforts to promote development and trade between Massachusetts and Baden-Württemberg.
After his retirement as president of UMass in 1990, Knapp was named President Emeritus of the University and served as the Ralph Waldo Emerson Professor until 1993. During his retirement, Knapp served on the governing boards of several organizations, including:
New England Board of Higher Education
New England Board of Higher Education
The New England Board of Higher Education is an interstate compact founded in 1955 by the six New England governors that promotes greater educational opportunities and services for the residents of New England. The region of New England includes the states of: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,...
1987-2006, Chair 1998-2000
Massachusetts Hokkaido Association 1987-2000, Chair 1987-1993
Japan Society of Boston 1994-2000, President 1996-2000
Renaissance Charter School of Boston 1994-2005, Chair 1994-2000
Marlboro Music Festival 2000-2010