J. Dennis O'Connor
Encyclopedia
John Dennis O'Connor, known as J.Dennis O'Connor, (born 1942) is an American biologist and was the sixteenth Chancellor
(1991–1995) of the University of Pittsburgh
.
, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
, the Smithsonian Institution
, and the University of Maryland, College Park
.
A biologist
, O'Connor was on the faculty at UCLA, serving as Dean of the Life Sciences for six years and Chair of the Department of Biology for two years. At the University of North Carolina he was Vice Chancellor of Research and Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School before being appointed Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, and Provost
in 1988.
He became Chancellor at Pitt in 1991, following the retirement of Wesley Posvar
. However, he resigned in 1995, after a series of disputes with the Board of Trustees.
O'Connor joined the Smithsonian Institution in December 1995 as the Institution's first Provost. He was responsible for planning, integration and oversight of research, exhibitions, and education for the 16 museums and galleries and 6 research centers.
In 2002 the University of Maryland, College Park
named him Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School. He resigned this post effective July 1, 2004, and assumed the position of professor in the Department of Biology. According to the Diamondback, the University of Maryland newspaper, O'Connor was deemed responsible for overallocating graduate student fellowships, an error creating a domino effect that has left the graduate school in a multimillion dollar deficit.
, a master's from DePaul University
, and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University
.
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
(1991–1995) of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
.
Career
In addition to the University of Pittsburgh, O'Connor has held executive positions at UCLAUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, and 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...
.
A biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
, O'Connor was on the faculty at UCLA, serving as Dean of the Life Sciences for six years and Chair of the Department of Biology for two years. At the University of North Carolina he was Vice Chancellor of Research and Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School before being appointed Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, and 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....
in 1988.
He became Chancellor at Pitt in 1991, following the retirement of Wesley Posvar
Wesley Posvar
Wesley Wentz Posvar was the fifteenth Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh.-Biography:Posvar was born September 14, 1925 in Topeka, Kansas. He attended West Point, graduated first in his class in 1946, and after graduation he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, which later became the U.S. Air...
. However, he resigned in 1995, after a series of disputes with the Board of Trustees.
O'Connor joined the Smithsonian Institution in December 1995 as the Institution's first Provost. He was responsible for planning, integration and oversight of research, exhibitions, and education for the 16 museums and galleries and 6 research centers.
In 2002 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...
named him Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School. He resigned this post effective July 1, 2004, and assumed the position of professor in the Department of Biology. According to the Diamondback, the University of Maryland newspaper, O'Connor was deemed responsible for overallocating graduate student fellowships, an error creating a domino effect that has left the graduate school in a multimillion dollar deficit.
Education
The Chicago native holds a bachelor's degree from Loyola University ChicagoLoyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
, a master's from DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
, and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.