Gleaves Whitney
Encyclopedia
Gleaves Whitney is the director of Grand Valley State University
's Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. He has authored or edited 14 books. Whitney is also a senior scholar at the Center for the American Idea
in Houston, Texas
, and he is the first senior fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal
. His work has appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines, and journals.
(1980), was elected into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society (1980), and was a Fulbright scholar in Germany
(1984–85). He did his graduate work at the University of Michigan
, where he was a Richard M. Weaver
fellow (1987–88) and an H. B. Earhart Fellow (1988–91). Whitney has taught at the University of Michigan
, Aquinas College
, Droste-Hulshof Gymnasium, Colorado State University
, and Grand Valley State University
. In 2006, he received the Doctorate of Humane Letters honoris causa from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology
, Berkeley, California
.
, Whitney worked 11 years in Michigan
Governor
John Engler
's administration, serving as senior writer, chief speechwriter, and historian. In 1993, the governor assigned him to a task force that helped bring sweeping education and school finance reforms to Michigan
that The New York Times
called "the most dramatic in the nation."
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
in 2003. The Center has experienced tremendous growth during his tenure. "Gleaves Whitney is a real treasure for those of us who do presidential studies and work in the field of presidential history," said award-winning biographer H. W. Brands. "He’s also one of the most effective entrepreneurs in the business of higher education," he continued. "You can tell this by the growth in the Hauenstein Center over the years that he’s been the director."
"Gleaves Whitney and his energetic team at the Hauenstein Center have become, in a remarkably short time, a force to reckon with -- and learn from -- in the presidential studies field," said historian Richard Norton Smith. "The Hauenstein Center is a jewel in the crown of Michigan."
Whitney has been the architect of more than 300 programs, including four national conferences covered by C-SPAN
and one webcast live to more than 3,500 viewers in 18 countries. He has overseen tremendous growth of the Hauenstein Center's website, which has had more than 25 million visitors, and premiered a popular web column called Ask Gleaves -- the first presidential Q & A in the nation -- and created a leadership academy for students and young professionals committed to public service.
, Houston Museum of Natural Science
, and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum—and numerous ongoing professional partnerships—e.g., H. W. Brands, Richard Norton Smith
, William Barker
, and George Nash
.
: The Man, the Leader & the Legacy;" and 6 volumes of Messages of the Governors of Michigan
. Another book, a collection of the wartime speeches of American presidents, is forthcoming.
Edited by Mark Rozell and Gleaves Whitney
(Rowman & Littlefield, 2009)
Edited by Mark Rozell and Gleaves Whitney
(Palgrave Macmillan, August 2007)
Edited by Mark Rozell and Gleaves Whitney
(Palgrave Macmillan, May 2007)
Farewell Messages to the Nation, 1796–2001
Edited by Gleaves Whitney
(Lexington, December 2002)
Written by Gleaves Whitney
Sleeping Bear Press (December 2002)
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
's Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. He has authored or edited 14 books. Whitney is also a senior scholar at the Center for the American Idea
Center for the American Idea
The Center for the American Idea is the leading program of the Free Enterprise Institute, a Houston-based think tank, founded in 1976 by Rolland Storey to advance the principles of liberty and free enterprise through continuing education programs for teachers....
in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and he is the first senior fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal
Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal
The Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal is a nonprofit educational organization based out of Mecosta, Michigan. It was founded in order to continue the legacy of Dr. Russell Kirk, an American political theorist, historian, social critic, literary critic, and fiction author...
. His work has appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines, and journals.
Education
Whitney graduated with honors from Colorado State UniversityColorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
(1980), was elected into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society (1980), and was a Fulbright scholar in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(1984–85). He did his graduate work at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, where he was a Richard M. Weaver
Richard M. Weaver
Richard Malcolm Weaver, Jr was an American scholar who taught English at the University of Chicago. He is primarily known as a shaper of mid- 20th century conservatism and as an authority on modern rhetoric...
fellow (1987–88) and an H. B. Earhart Fellow (1988–91). Whitney has taught at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, Aquinas College
Aquinas College
Aquinas College may refer to any one of several educational institutions:-In Australia:*Aquinas College, Adelaide – a Roman Catholic residential college.*Aquinas College, Sydney – a Roman Catholic co-educational secondary school....
, Droste-Hulshof Gymnasium, Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
, and Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
. In 2006, he received the Doctorate of Humane Letters honoris causa from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology
Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology
The Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology is a Roman Catholic college, seminary, and graduate school in Berkeley, California. It is located at 2301 Vine Street in Berkeley....
, Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
.
Public service
Prior to his arrival at Grand Valley State UniversityGrand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
, Whitney worked 11 years in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
John Engler
John Engler
John Mathias Engler is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as the 46th Governor of Michigan from 1991 to 2003....
's administration, serving as senior writer, chief speechwriter, and historian. In 1993, the governor assigned him to a task force that helped bring sweeping education and school finance reforms to Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
that The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
called "the most dramatic in the nation."
Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies
Whitney became the director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State UniversityGrand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
in 2003. The Center has experienced tremendous growth during his tenure. "Gleaves Whitney is a real treasure for those of us who do presidential studies and work in the field of presidential history," said award-winning biographer H. W. Brands. "He’s also one of the most effective entrepreneurs in the business of higher education," he continued. "You can tell this by the growth in the Hauenstein Center over the years that he’s been the director."
"Gleaves Whitney and his energetic team at the Hauenstein Center have become, in a remarkably short time, a force to reckon with -- and learn from -- in the presidential studies field," said historian Richard Norton Smith. "The Hauenstein Center is a jewel in the crown of Michigan."
Whitney has been the architect of more than 300 programs, including four national conferences covered by C-SPAN
C-SPAN
C-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
and one webcast live to more than 3,500 viewers in 18 countries. He has overseen tremendous growth of the Hauenstein Center's website, which has had more than 25 million visitors, and premiered a popular web column called Ask Gleaves -- the first presidential Q & A in the nation -- and created a leadership academy for students and young professionals committed to public service.
Partnerships Created
In his current position as director of the Hauenstein Center, he has cultivated many institutional partnerships—e.g., the National Park ServiceNational Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, Houston Museum of Natural Science
Houston Museum of Natural Science
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is a science museum located on the northern border of Hermann Park in Houston, Texas, USA. The museum was established in 1909 by the Houston Museum and Scientific Society, an organization whose goals were to provide a free institution for the people of Houston...
, and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum—and numerous ongoing professional partnerships—e.g., H. W. Brands, Richard Norton Smith
Richard Norton Smith
Richard Norton Smith is an American historian and author specializing in US presidents.-Life:Born in Leominster, Massachusetts, in 1953, Smith graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1975 with a degree in government...
, William Barker
William Barker
William Barker may refer to:*William Barker , English translator and MP for Great Yarmouth and Bramber*Sir William Barker, 5th Baronet , British Member of Parliament for Ipswich, Thetford and Suffolk...
, and George Nash
George Nash
George Nash is the name of:* George Nash , English cricketer* George H. Nash , English archaeologist, writer & BBC Radio 4 presenter* George K. Nash , American politician...
.
Writing/Editing/Speaking
In addition to his public work, Whitney is a scholar who writes and lectures nationally on a variety of historical topics. He is author or editor of thirteen books including most recently (with Mark Rozell) "Religion and the American Presidency" and "Religion and the Bush Presidency." Other books include "American Presidents: Farewell Addresses to the Nation, 1796-2001;" "John EnglerJohn Engler
John Mathias Engler is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as the 46th Governor of Michigan from 1991 to 2003....
: The Man, the Leader & the Legacy;" and 6 volumes of Messages of the Governors of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Another book, a collection of the wartime speeches of American presidents, is forthcoming.
Selected works
- Testing the Limits: George W. Bush and the Imperial Presidency
Edited by Mark Rozell and Gleaves Whitney
(Rowman & Littlefield, 2009)
- Religion and the Bush Presidency
Edited by Mark Rozell and Gleaves Whitney
(Palgrave Macmillan, August 2007)
- Religion and the American Presidency
Edited by Mark Rozell and Gleaves Whitney
(Palgrave Macmillan, May 2007)
- American Presidents:
Farewell Messages to the Nation, 1796–2001
Edited by Gleaves Whitney
(Lexington, December 2002)
- John Engler: The Man, the Leader & the Legacy
Written by Gleaves Whitney
Sleeping Bear Press (December 2002)
Speeches about American Presidents
- George Washington: Less than Perfect, Greater than Us
- Indispensable Aide: Alexander Hamilton
- Abraham Lincoln's Unions
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt: The Paradox of Power
- Shakespearean Drama in the American Republic: The Tragedy of Richard Nixon
- Gerald R. Ford: Republican
- Ronald Reagan
- Growth of Presidential Power in the Twentieth Century
- Presidents and the Moral Imagination
External links
- The Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies
- Grand Valley State University
- Gleaves Whitney's Official Website
- The Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal
- Center for the American Idea
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
- National Park Service
- Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum
- Gleaves Whitney on vacation
