Alvin C. Eurich
Encyclopedia
Alvin Christian Eurich was a 20th Century American educator who is most notable for having served as the first President of the State University of New York
from 1949–1951.
Eurich was born in Bay City, Michigan
and pursued degrees in Psychology at North Central College
and the University of Maine
. He supported himself by working as a speech instructor while in Maine. He earned a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology
at the University of Minnesota
in 1929, where he worked as a professor and assistant dean of the College of Education from 1927 to 1936. In 1937 he left for Northwestern University
and a year after that, he left for Stanford University
. During World War II, he served in the Navy, returning to take a Vice Presidency at Stanford University
. He helped organize the Stanford Research Institute
and served as its chairman. He was named acting President of Stanford in 1948 after his predecessor's sudden death, shortly before assuming the Presidency of SUNY.
From 1958 to 1964, Eurich served as Executive Director of the Ford Foundation
's Educational Division and in 1961 he co-founded the Academy for Educational Development
and served as its chairman for many years. He also served as President of the Aspen Institute
for Humanistic Studies from 1963 to 1972.
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
from 1949–1951.
Eurich was born in Bay City, Michigan
Bay City, Michigan
Bay City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan located near the base of the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 34,932, and is the principal city of the Bay City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Saginaw-Bay City-Saginaw Township North...
and pursued degrees in Psychology at North Central College
North Central College
North Central College is a leading liberal arts college providing students at different stages of life and from different ethnic, economic and religious backgrounds with comprehensive educational programs.-Academics:...
and the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
. He supported himself by working as a speech instructor while in Maine. He earned a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology
Educational psychology
Educational psychology is the study of how humans learn in educational settings, the effectiveness of educational interventions, the psychology of teaching, and the social psychology of schools as organizations. Educational psychology is concerned with how students learn and develop, often focusing...
at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in 1929, where he worked as a professor and assistant dean of the College of Education from 1927 to 1936. In 1937 he left for 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....
and a year after that, he left for Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. During World War II, he served in the Navy, returning to take a Vice Presidency at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. He helped organize the Stanford Research Institute
SRI International
SRI International , founded as Stanford Research Institute, is one of the world's largest contract research institutes. Based in Menlo Park, California, the trustees of Stanford University established it in 1946 as a center of innovation to support economic development in the region. It was later...
and served as its chairman. He was named acting President of Stanford in 1948 after his predecessor's sudden death, shortly before assuming the Presidency of SUNY.
From 1958 to 1964, Eurich served as Executive Director of the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
's Educational Division and in 1961 he co-founded the Academy for Educational Development
Academy for Educational Development
AED, formerly the Academy for Educational Development, is a 501 nonprofit organization that focuses on education, health and economic development for the "least advantaged in the United States and developing countries throughout the world." AED currently operates more than 250 programs in the...
and served as its chairman for many years. He also served as President of the Aspen Institute
Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1950 as the Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies. The organization is dedicated to "fostering enlightened leadership, the appreciation of timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue on contemporary issues." The...
for Humanistic Studies from 1963 to 1972.