Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Encyclopedia
Chester Evans Finn, Jr., (b. August 3, 1944) is a former professor of education, an educational policy analyst, and a former United States Assistant Secretary of Education. He is currently the president of the nonprofit Thomas B. Fordham Foundation in Washington, D.C.
He is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Education, an Adjunct Fellow at the Hudson Institute
, and a senior fellow at Stanford University
's Hoover Institution
where he chairs the Koret Task Force on K-12 Education.
Finn was Professor of Education and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University
(1981–2002). He served as Assistant Secretary for Research and Improvement at the U.S. Department of Education (1985–1988). Earlier positions include Staff Assistant to the President of the United States; Special Assistant to the Governor of Massachusetts
(1972–1973); Counsel to the United States Ambassador to India
(1973–1974); Research Associate at the Brookings Institution
(1974–1977); and Legislative Director for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan
(1977–1981).
Chester is known among friends and associates by the nickname "Checker."
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Education, an Adjunct Fellow at the Hudson Institute
Hudson Institute
The Hudson Institute is an American think tank founded in 1961, in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, by futurist, military strategist, and systems theorist Herman Kahn and his colleagues at the RAND Corporation...
, and a senior fellow 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...
's Hoover Institution
Hoover Institution
The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace is a public policy think tank and library founded in 1919 by then future U.S. president, Herbert Hoover, an early alumnus of Stanford....
where he chairs the Koret Task Force on K-12 Education.
Finn was Professor of Education and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
(1981–2002). He served as Assistant Secretary for Research and Improvement at the U.S. Department of Education (1985–1988). Earlier positions include Staff Assistant to the President of the United States; Special Assistant to the Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
(1972–1973); Counsel to the United States Ambassador to India
United States Ambassador to India
American Embassy New Delhi was established Nov 1, 1946, with George R. Merrell as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim.-Chiefs of Mission to India:-See also:*Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.*India – United States relations*Foreign relations of India...
(1973–1974); Research Associate at the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
(1974–1977); and Legislative Director for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick "Pat" Moynihan was an American politician and sociologist. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the United States Senate for New York in 1976, and was re-elected three times . He declined to run for re-election in 2000...
(1977–1981).
Chester is known among friends and associates by the nickname "Checker."
Memberships
- American Educational Research AssociationAmerican Educational Research AssociationThe American Educational Research Association, or AERA, was founded in 1916 as a professional organization representing educational researchers in the United States and around the world....
- Committee for the Free World
- Phi Delta KappaPhi Delta KappaPhi Delta Kappa is an US professional organization for educators. Its headquarters are located in Bloomington, Indiana. It was founded on 24 January 1906. Phi Delta Kappa also had a youth organization, called Xinos, girls, and Kudos, guys.-Membership:Currently, membership consists of students,...
Published works
- We Must Take Charge!: Our Schools and Our Future (1991)
- The Educated Child: A Parents Guide From Preschool Through Eighth Grade (1999) (with William BennettWilliam BennettWilliam John "Bill" Bennett is an American conservative pundit, politician, and political theorist. He served as United States Secretary of Education from 1985 to 1988. He also held the post of Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under George H. W...
and John T.E. Cribb, Jr.) - Charter Schools in Action: Renewing Public Education (2001) (with Bruno V. Manno and Gregg Vanourek)
- Leaving No Child Behind?: Options for Kids in Failing Schools (2004) (with Frederick M. Hess)
- Troublemaker: A Personal History of School Reform Since Sputnik (2008)