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Walter Harrison
5th President of the University of Hartford
In office July 1998 – July 2017
Preceded by	Humphrey Tonkin
Succeeded by	Gregory S. Woodward
Personal details
Born	Walter Lee Harrison (1946-05-15)May 15, 1946 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Alma mater	Trinity College (BA) University of Michigan (MA) UC Davis Ph.D.
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Rank	Captain

Walter Lee Harrison is an American university administrator, currently president emeritus of the University of Hartford, in West Hartford, Connecticut. Harrison is currently President and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford. He also sits on the board of trustees for Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.

A native of Pittsburgh, Harrison graduated from Trinity College in 1968 and earned a master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1969. He subsequently served as a captain in the United States Air Force before earning his doctorate from the University of California, Davis.

Career

Harrison began his career as an educator, teaching English and American Studies at Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz in Mainz, Germany, Iowa State University and Colorado College.

Following his educational career, Harrison left full-time teaching to take an administrative position at Colorado College. He joined Gehrung Associates University Relations Counselors in 1985, where he worked with such clients as the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and Williams College. He became president of the firm shortly thereafter. In 1989 Harrison moved to the University of Michigan, where he became vice president of university relations and secretary of the university.

University of Hartford

Harrison became the fifth president of the University of Hartford in 1998. During Harrison's tenure, the university has undertaken a vigorous and comprehensive building campaign in an attempt to modify the archaic and outdated structures, most of which were built in the 1960s. Building projects completed under Harrsion's presidency included the Hartford Arts school's visual arts complex, ISET science complex, Mort and Irma Performing Arts Center, and Shaw Center at Hillyer College. Harrison taught one English course per year at Hartford, where, in addition to being the university's president, he held the rank of resident professor. On June 30, 2017 Harrison retired from the University of Hartford. After the renovation of its libraries in 2016, the university announced that they would now be named the Harrison University Libraries.

Awards and honors

Harrison chairs the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Committee on Academic Performance. In 2013 the Anti-Defamation League honored harrison with the Torch of Liberty Award, which celebrates people who carry on a tradion of community service. In 2015 Harrison was named to the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, which works to promote a reform agenda that emphasizes the educational mission of college sports. In 2017 the America East Conference renamed its academic cup to the Walter Harrison Academic Cup. The cup is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest grade-point average during that academic year.

References

1. "Former UHart President Walter Harrison has new interim CEO role". Hartford Business Journal. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
2. "Walt Harrison named president of University of Hartford". University of Hartford and U-M Office of University Relations. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
3. "University Of Hartford President Walter Harrison Retiring in 2017". Hartford Courant. 20 November 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
4. "Retiring President Walt Harrison Served University, Hartford Well". Hartford Courant. 27 November 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
5. "Harrison's love of learning shapes university president tenure". Hartford Business.com. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
6. "University of Hartford Libraries to Become Harrison University Libraries". Patch. 21 November 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
7. "Harrison to receive Ford Award". NCAA. 9 December 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
8. "ADL to Honor Dr. Walter Harrison, Deacon Arthur and Sandra Miller, and Anwar Family at 2013 Greater Hartford Torch of Liberty Award Reception and Centennial Gala". ADL Connecticut. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
9. "Hartford President Walt Harrison Named to Knight Commission". America East Conference. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
10. "AMERICA EAST NAMES ACADEMIC CUP AFTER PRESIDENT HARRISON". Hartford Athletics. 21 June 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2018.

External links

• Official biography, Trinity College

• Presidents of the University of Hartford
• Iowa State University faculty
• University of Michigan alumni
• Trinity College (Connecticut) alumni
• University of California, Davis alumni
• University of Michigan faculty
• Military personnel from Pittsburgh
• Jews from Pennsylvania
• Living people
• 21st-century American Jews
• 1946 births
• 20th-century American Jews
• Academic staff of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz