Eric A. Walker
Encyclopedia
Eric Arthur Walker born April 29, 1910 in Long Eaton, England
, died February 17, 1995 was president of Penn State University from 1956 to 1970 and founding member of the National Academy of Engineering
http://www.nap.edu/openbook/030905575X/html/281.html.
Dr. Walker earned a Bachelors Degree from Harvard University
in Electrical Engineering
, a Masters Degree in business administration, and doctorate
in general science and engineering from Harvard. During World War II
, Walker was associate director of the Underwater Sound Laboratory, initially located at Harvard, but relocated to the campus of Penn State University. Dr. Walker remained at Penn State, becoming head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, then Dean
of the College of Engineering and Architecture in 1951. Next Dr. Walker became vice president for research at Penn State in 1956, and President of the University, also in 1956http://www.libraries.psu.edu/speccolls/psua/psgeneralhistory/presidents/walker.htm.
Penn State experienced changes and growth during the Presidency of Dr. Walker. The post-war student population at the university increased from 13,000 to 40,000, becoming one of the largest universities in the United States
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0933958.html. Dr. Walker also oversaw the creation of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
, and research expenditures for the university grew from $8,000,000 in 1956-57 to $36,000,000 in 1969-70http://www.libraries.psu.edu/speccolls/psua/psgeneralhistory/presidents/walker.htm.
department, one of the larger science departments at the university, as well as the Geography
department.
Long Eaton
Long Eaton is a town in Derbyshire, England. It lies just north of the River Trent about southwest of Nottingham and is part of the Nottingham Urban Area...
, died February 17, 1995 was president of Penn State University from 1956 to 1970 and founding member of the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
http://www.nap.edu/openbook/030905575X/html/281.html.
Dr. Walker earned a Bachelors Degree from 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...
in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
, a Masters Degree in business administration, and doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in general science and engineering from Harvard. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Walker was associate director of the Underwater Sound Laboratory, initially located at Harvard, but relocated to the campus of Penn State University. Dr. Walker remained at Penn State, becoming head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, then Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the College of Engineering and Architecture in 1951. Next Dr. Walker became vice president for research at Penn State in 1956, and President of the University, also in 1956http://www.libraries.psu.edu/speccolls/psua/psgeneralhistory/presidents/walker.htm.
Penn State experienced changes and growth during the Presidency of Dr. Walker. The post-war student population at the university increased from 13,000 to 40,000, becoming one of the largest universities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0933958.html. Dr. Walker also oversaw the creation of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, 10 miles east of Harrisburg, is Penn State’s medical school and academic medical center, and is the only medical school and university hospital in Pennsylvania located outside the urban areas of Philadelphia and...
, and research expenditures for the university grew from $8,000,000 in 1956-57 to $36,000,000 in 1969-70http://www.libraries.psu.edu/speccolls/psua/psgeneralhistory/presidents/walker.htm.
Legacy
The Eric A. Walker building on Penn State's campus is named in honor of Dr. Walker. It houses the MeteorologyMeteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
department, one of the larger science departments at the university, as well as the Geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
department.