Don Moon (educator)
Encyclopedia
Don P. Moon is an American educator, minister, and former nuclear reactor physicist. He was the president of Shimer College
from 1978 to 2004, and has been on the faculty of Shimer College from 1967 to the present.
Moon was born in 1936 in Manila
. He was the son of Don Pardee Moon, an admiral in the US Navy. Moon obtained a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics from Cornell University
in 1957, and a Master of Science in Reactor Engineering from New York University
in 1958. Moon worked as a nuclear reactor physicist at Argonne National Laboratory
from 1959 to 1964. He subsequently completed a Master of Divinity at Nashotah House
, an Episcopalian seminary, in 1965. From 1966 to 1967 Moon taught at Sauk Valley Community College
in Dixon, Illinois
.
In 1967 Moon joined the natural sciences faculty of Shimer College in nearby Mount Carroll, Illinois
. While an instructor, he held administrative positions including Chairman of the Natural Sciences Program, Director of the Oxford Program, Dean of Students and Dean of Faculty. After the attempted closure of the college by the Board of Trustees in 1973, Moon became one of a small group of faculty known as the Shimer Steering Committee, who coordinated efforts to save the college.
Moon became president of Shimer College on March 18, 1978. The college moved from Mount Carroll
to Waukegan
in the winter of that year, remaining there until 2006. Moon's leadership style as president was characterized as "collegial and low key", and he was credited with providing a necessary calming influence during the difficult negotiations surrounding the liquidation of the Mount Carroll Campus. During Moon's subsequent tenure, enrollment more than tripled, from 40 students to 130, and the new Waukegan campus was expanded from two buildings to 12. In 2004, Moon stepped down from the presidency but continued to teach; he was succeeded as president by William Craig Rice
.
Shimer College
Shimer College is a very small, private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Founded by Frances Wood Shimer in 1853 in the frontier town of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, it was a women's school for most of its first century. It joined with the University of...
from 1978 to 2004, and has been on the faculty of Shimer College from 1967 to the present.
Moon was born in 1936 in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. He was the son of Don Pardee Moon, an admiral in the US Navy. Moon obtained a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics from 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...
in 1957, and a Master of Science in Reactor Engineering from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1958. Moon worked as a nuclear reactor physicist at Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory is the first science and engineering research national laboratory in the United States, receiving this designation on July 1, 1946. It is the largest national laboratory by size and scope in the Midwest...
from 1959 to 1964. He subsequently completed a Master of Divinity at Nashotah House
Nashotah House
Nashotah House is an Anglo-Catholic seminary of the Episcopal Church located in Nashotah, Wisconsin, approximately 30 miles from Milwaukee, in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. The seminary opened its doors in 1842 and received its official charter in 1847...
, an Episcopalian seminary, in 1965. From 1966 to 1967 Moon taught at Sauk Valley Community College
Sauk Valley Community College
Sauk Valley Community College is a community college in Dixon, Illinois. Whilst technically in Dixon it is closer to the city limits of Sterling, Illinois.SVCC was built on the Rock River between the cities of Sterling and Dixon, Illinois...
in Dixon, Illinois
Dixon, Illinois
Dixon is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,733 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,941 at the 2000 census. Named for its founder, John Dixon , it is the county seat of Lee County. Located on the Rock River, Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S...
.
In 1967 Moon joined the natural sciences faculty of Shimer College in nearby Mount Carroll, Illinois
Mount Carroll, Illinois
Mount Carroll is a city in Carroll County, Illinois, United States-History:Shimer College was established in Mt. Carroll in 1853, but mounting debts forced a move to Waukegan, Illinois in 1979. The campus now is home to several organizations, most notably the Campbell Center for Historic...
. While an instructor, he held administrative positions including Chairman of the Natural Sciences Program, Director of the Oxford Program, Dean of Students and Dean of Faculty. After the attempted closure of the college by the Board of Trustees in 1973, Moon became one of a small group of faculty known as the Shimer Steering Committee, who coordinated efforts to save the college.
Moon became president of Shimer College on March 18, 1978. The college moved from Mount Carroll
Mount Carroll, Illinois
Mount Carroll is a city in Carroll County, Illinois, United States-History:Shimer College was established in Mt. Carroll in 1853, but mounting debts forced a move to Waukegan, Illinois in 1979. The campus now is home to several organizations, most notably the Campbell Center for Historic...
to Waukegan
Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
in the winter of that year, remaining there until 2006. Moon's leadership style as president was characterized as "collegial and low key", and he was credited with providing a necessary calming influence during the difficult negotiations surrounding the liquidation of the Mount Carroll Campus. During Moon's subsequent tenure, enrollment more than tripled, from 40 students to 130, and the new Waukegan campus was expanded from two buildings to 12. In 2004, Moon stepped down from the presidency but continued to teach; he was succeeded as president by William Craig Rice
William Craig Rice
William Craig Rice is an American educator. He is currently the Director of the Division of Education Programs of the National Endowment for the Humanities....
.