Neil Leon Rudenstine
Encyclopedia
Neil Leon Rudenstine is an American educator, literary scholar, and administrator. He served as president of Harvard University
from 1991 to 2001.
, where he attended the Wooster School
on a scholarship and was selected to participate in Camp Rising Sun
, the Louis August Jonas Foundation's international summer scholarship program. He is an Episcopalian of partly Jewish descent. He studied the humanities at Princeton University
(A.B.
1956) and participated in Army R.O.T.C. After serving in the U.S. Army as an artillery officer he attended New College, Oxford
, as a Rhodes Scholar
, where he received another B.A. and an M.A. In 1964, he received a Ph.D.
in English literature from Harvard. His dissertation, directed by Douglas Bush
, was on the poetic development of Sir Philip Sidney
.
Most of Rudenstine's career has been dedicated to educational administration. Between 1968 and 1988, Rudenstine was a faculty member and senior administrator at Princeton University. A scholar of Renaissance literature
, he was an associate professor and then a professor of English. He also held a series of administrative posts: dean of students (1968–72), dean of the college (1972–77), and provost (1977–88). Previously, Rudenstine served at Harvard from 1964 to 1968 as an instructor and then an assistant professor in the Department of English and American Literature and Language. After his time as provost of Princeton University, he served as executive vice-president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
from 1988 to 1991, followed by serving as president of Harvard University
from 1991 to 2001. At Harvard he gained a reputation as an effective fundraiser, overseeing a period of highly successful growth of Harvard's endowment. He was known as a very mild-mannered president, supporting the arts and humanities and generally avoiding internal controversy, usually taking a hands-off approach to leading the university. He is also known for his initially hostile response to the Harvard Living Wage Campaign of 1998-2001, an initiative that drew the active support of thousands of students, faculty, and alumni including the late Senator Ted Kennedy
. In November 1994, citing exhaustion, he took a three-month leave of absence, during which provost Albert Carnesale
served as acting president.
Rudenstine currently serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board for ARTstor
, as well as teaching a yearly seminar in 20th century poetry at Princeton University.
Rudenstine is an honorary Fellow of New College, Oxford, and Emmanuel College
, Cambridge University, as well as Provost Emeritus of Princeton University. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, a former director of the American Council on Education
, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
, the American Philosophical Society
, and the Committee for Economic Development
. Earlier, he was a member of various advisory groups, including the National Commission on Preservation and Access and the Council on Library Resources. Rudenstine has also served as a trustee of the College Entrance Examination Board and of the Wooster School in Danbury, Connecticut, of which he is a graduate. He is currently on the Board of the New York Public Library
, the Goldman Sachs Foundation, the Barnes Foundation, as well as many others both in the United States and in Europe.
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...
from 1991 to 2001.
Life and career
Rudenstine grew up in Danbury, ConnecticutDanbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
, where he attended the Wooster School
Wooster School
Wooster School is a private, co-educational, college-preparatory Pre-K-12 school in Danbury, Connecticut, in the United States. Wooster was founded in 1926 by Aaron Coburn and is named after General David Wooster, a Revolutionary War hero. Wooster's four cardinal principles are simplicity,...
on a scholarship and was selected to participate in Camp Rising Sun
Camp Rising Sun
Camp Rising Sun is an invitation-only, international, full-scholarship, leadership summer program for students aged 14–16. Operated by the Louis August Jonas Foundation , a non-profit organization, the program lasts for seven weeks...
, the Louis August Jonas Foundation's international summer scholarship program. He is an Episcopalian of partly Jewish descent. He studied the humanities at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
(A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
1956) and participated in Army R.O.T.C. After serving in the U.S. Army as an artillery officer he attended New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, as a Rhodes Scholar
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
, where he received another B.A. and an M.A. In 1964, he received a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in English literature from Harvard. His dissertation, directed by Douglas Bush
Douglas Bush
Douglas Bush was a literary critic and literary historian. He taught for most of his life at Harvard University, where his students included many of the most prominent scholars, writers, and academics of several generations, including Walter Jackson Bate, Neil Rudenstine, Paul Auster and Rabbi...
, was on the poetic development of Sir Philip Sidney
Philip Sidney
Sir Philip Sidney was an English poet, courtier and soldier, and is remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan Age...
.
Most of Rudenstine's career has been dedicated to educational administration. Between 1968 and 1988, Rudenstine was a faculty member and senior administrator at Princeton University. A scholar of Renaissance literature
Renaissance literature
Renaissance Literature refers to the period in European literature that began in Italy during the 14th century and spread around Europe through the 17th century...
, he was an associate professor and then a professor of English. He also held a series of administrative posts: dean of students (1968–72), dean of the college (1972–77), and provost (1977–88). Previously, Rudenstine served at Harvard from 1964 to 1968 as an instructor and then an assistant professor in the Department of English and American Literature and Language. After his time as provost of Princeton University, he served as executive vice-president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation of New York City and Princeton, New Jersey in the United States, is a private foundation with five core areas of interest, endowed with wealth accumulated by the late Andrew W. Mellon of the Mellon family of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the product of the 1969...
from 1988 to 1991, followed by serving as president of Harvard University
President of Harvard University
The President of Harvard University is the chief administrator of the university. Ex officio the chairman of the Harvard Corporation, he or she is appointed by and is responsible to the other members of that body, who delegate to him or her the day-to-day running of the university...
from 1991 to 2001. At Harvard he gained a reputation as an effective fundraiser, overseeing a period of highly successful growth of Harvard's endowment. He was known as a very mild-mannered president, supporting the arts and humanities and generally avoiding internal controversy, usually taking a hands-off approach to leading the university. He is also known for his initially hostile response to the Harvard Living Wage Campaign of 1998-2001, an initiative that drew the active support of thousands of students, faculty, and alumni including the late Senator Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy was a United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. Serving almost 47 years, he was the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and is the fourth-longest-serving senator in United States history...
. In November 1994, citing exhaustion, he took a three-month leave of absence, during which provost Albert Carnesale
Albert Carnesale
Albert Carnesale is an American academic. He is a former chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles, provost of Harvard University, and dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. In November 1994, while serving as Dean and Provost, Carnesale also served as Acting President...
served as acting president.
Rudenstine currently serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board for ARTstor
ARTstor
ARTstor is a non-profit organization that builds and distributes the Digital Library, an online resource of more than one million images in the arts, architecture, humanities, and sciences. The ARTstor Digital Library also includes a set of software tools to view, present, and manage images for...
, as well as teaching a yearly seminar in 20th century poetry at Princeton University.
Rudenstine is an honorary Fellow of New College, Oxford, and Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, Cambridge University, as well as Provost Emeritus of Princeton University. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, a former director 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....
, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
, the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
, and the Committee for Economic Development
Committee for Economic Development
The Committee for Economic Development is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan think tank based in Washington, DC. Its membership consists of some 200 senior corporate executives and university leaders...
. Earlier, he was a member of various advisory groups, including the National Commission on Preservation and Access and the Council on Library Resources. Rudenstine has also served as a trustee of the College Entrance Examination Board and of the Wooster School in Danbury, Connecticut, of which he is a graduate. He is currently on the Board of the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
, the Goldman Sachs Foundation, the Barnes Foundation, as well as many others both in the United States and in Europe.