Richard Kneedler
Encyclopedia
Richard Kneedler is President Emeritus of Franklin & Marshall College
. From 2005-2006 he served as chairman of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Commission on Training America’s Teachers. From 2006-2008, he served as interim president of Rockford College
.
During his fourteen year presidency (1988–2002), Franklin & Marshall completed two capital campaigns, raising $200,000,000. The College’s endowment also increased more than fourfold to over $300,000,000 and more than half of the College’s physical plant was built new or fully renovated. In particular, the Barshinger Center for Musical Arts, the Roschel Performing Arts Center, and the Phillips Museum of Art were constructed, and the Hackman Science Center and the Herman Fine Arts Building were thoroughly renovated.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kneedler earned his A.B. from Franklin & Marshall in 1965 as a College Scholar specializing in French. He holds an M.A. (1967) and a Ph. D. (1970) in French Language and Literature from the University of Pennsylvania
. He also has a certificate in Higher Education Administration from the Institute for Educational Management at the Harvard University
Graduate School of Business Administration (1975). He was awarded honorary doctorates by Tohoku Gakuin University
in Sendai, Japan (1963) and by Franklin & Marshall (2002) and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Tau
.
Dr. Kneedler began his teaching career at Franklin & Marshall, where he was appointed Instructor in French in 1968 and Assistant Professor of French in 1969. He also taught in the Temple University
Graduate Education Program for Teachers in Harrisburg 1969-71. He began his career in administration with his appointment in 1971 as Assistant to John Vanderzell, Dean of the College at Franklin & Marshall. He subsequently held appointments as Assistant to President Keith Spalding, Secretary of the College, Administrative Vice President, Vice President for Administration, and Vice President for Development, as well as serving as Secretary of the College’s Board of Visitors and the College’s Board of Trustees. He served as Franklin & Marshall’s President from 1988 until 2002.
Dr. Kneedler has served on boards of education-related organizations at regional, state and national levels, including The Association of Independent College and Universities of Pennsylvania, The Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities, The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
(Washington), the Council for Independent Colleges (Washington), the Centennial Conference, the Annapolis Group, the Central Pennsylvania Consortium, the Commonwealth Partnership, the Shared Services Consortium, the Kiski School (Saltsburg, PA), and the Pennsylvania School of Art and Design (Lancaster, PA). He was a founder of the Annapolis Group
, the Shared Services Consortium, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Independent College and University Research Council, and the Centennial Conference
(when it converted from football to an all-sports conference).
Franklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College is a four-year private co-educational residential national liberal arts college in the Northwest Corridor neighborhood of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States....
. From 2005-2006 he served as chairman of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Commission on Training America’s Teachers. From 2006-2008, he served as interim president of Rockford College
Rockford College
Rockford College is a private American liberal arts college in Rockford, Illinois. It was founded in 1847 as Rockford Female Seminary and changed its name in 1892. The college is known as the alma mater of Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams, who was a member of the class of...
.
During his fourteen year presidency (1988–2002), Franklin & Marshall completed two capital campaigns, raising $200,000,000. The College’s endowment also increased more than fourfold to over $300,000,000 and more than half of the College’s physical plant was built new or fully renovated. In particular, the Barshinger Center for Musical Arts, the Roschel Performing Arts Center, and the Phillips Museum of Art were constructed, and the Hackman Science Center and the Herman Fine Arts Building were thoroughly renovated.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Kneedler earned his A.B. from Franklin & Marshall in 1965 as a College Scholar specializing in French. He holds an M.A. (1967) and a Ph. D. (1970) in French Language and Literature from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. He also has a certificate in Higher Education Administration from the Institute for Educational Management at the 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...
Graduate School of Business Administration (1975). He was awarded honorary doctorates by Tohoku Gakuin University
Tohoku Gakuin University
is a private university in Sendai, Japan. It was founded under a Christian background is a private university in Sendai, Japan. It was founded under a Christian background is a private university in Sendai, Japan. It was founded under a Christian background (specifically the German Reformed...
in Sendai, Japan (1963) and by Franklin & Marshall (2002) and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
.
Dr. Kneedler began his teaching career at Franklin & Marshall, where he was appointed Instructor in French in 1968 and Assistant Professor of French in 1969. He also taught in the Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
Graduate Education Program for Teachers in Harrisburg 1969-71. He began his career in administration with his appointment in 1971 as Assistant to John Vanderzell, Dean of the College at Franklin & Marshall. He subsequently held appointments as Assistant to President Keith Spalding, Secretary of the College, Administrative Vice President, Vice President for Administration, and Vice President for Development, as well as serving as Secretary of the College’s Board of Visitors and the College’s Board of Trustees. He served as Franklin & Marshall’s President from 1988 until 2002.
Dr. Kneedler has served on boards of education-related organizations at regional, state and national levels, including The Association of Independent College and Universities of Pennsylvania, The Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities, The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
Founded in 1976, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities is an organization of private US colleges and universities...
(Washington), the Council for Independent Colleges (Washington), the Centennial Conference, the Annapolis Group, the Central Pennsylvania Consortium, the Commonwealth Partnership, the Shared Services Consortium, the Kiski School (Saltsburg, PA), and the Pennsylvania School of Art and Design (Lancaster, PA). He was a founder of the Annapolis Group
Annapolis Group
The Annapolis Group is an American organization that describes itself as "a nonprofit alliance of the nation’s leading independent liberal arts colleges." It represents approximately 130 liberal arts colleges in the United States...
, the Shared Services Consortium, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Independent College and University Research Council, and the Centennial Conference
Centennial Conference
The Centennial Conference is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member teams are located in Maryland and Pennsylvania....
(when it converted from football to an all-sports conference).