Jean Mayer
Encyclopedia
Jean Mayer was a renowned French-American nutritionist
and the tenth president of Tufts University
from 1976 to 1992. During his lifetime, Mayer was known as a leading expert and activist on hunger
issues.
Mayer was born in Paris
the son of French physiologists Jeanne Eugenie Mayer and Andre Mayer, himself notable for being one of the founding members of the United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization
. After obtaining bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Paris
, Jean Mayer served as an officer in the French Army during World War II
, receiving fourteen military decorations for his heroism. After being captured by the German Army, Mayer escaped from prison and used forged papers to get into the United States.
After the war, Mayer earned doctorates from Yale University
and the Sorbonne
, while serving as a Food and Agriculture Organization
nutrition officer in Washington, DC. Upon completion of his doctoral work, Mayer became a member of the Department of Nutrition of the Harvard School of Public Health
, where he taught for 26 years. In 1976, he was appointed the tenth president of Tufts University
in Massachusetts, where he proceeded to establish the first graduate school of nutrition in the United States. Shortly after being appointed Chancellor of the University, Mayer died of a heart attack
at age 72.
, and the United Nations' Childrens Fund. He was chairman of the 1969 White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health, the work of which paved the way for the subsequent establishment of the food stamp program and the expansion of reduced-price school lunch programs for poor children.
Mayer was politically active in other realms, as well. He was the first scientist to speak out against the use of herbicides in the Vietnam War, and he helped sponsor scholarship programs that sent non-white South Africans to mixed-race universities in their home country.
He was awarded the Bolton S. Corson Medal in 1978 for outstanding contribution to human nutrition.
Nutritionist
A nutritionist is a person who advises on matters of food and nutrition impacts on health. Different professional terms are used in different countries, employment settings and contexts — some examples include: nutrition scientist, public health nutritionist, dietitian-nutritionist, clinical...
and the tenth president of Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
from 1976 to 1992. During his lifetime, Mayer was known as a leading expert and activist on hunger
Hunger
Hunger is the most commonly used term to describe the social condition of people who frequently experience the physical sensation of desiring food.-Malnutrition, famine, starvation:...
issues.
Mayer was born in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
the son of French physiologists Jeanne Eugenie Mayer and Andre Mayer, himself notable for being one of the founding members of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
. After obtaining bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, Jean Mayer served as an officer in the French Army 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...
, receiving fourteen military decorations for his heroism. After being captured by the German Army, Mayer escaped from prison and used forged papers to get into the United States.
After the war, Mayer earned doctorates from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
, while serving as a Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
nutrition officer in Washington, DC. Upon completion of his doctoral work, Mayer became a member of the Department of Nutrition of the Harvard School of Public Health
Harvard School of Public Health
The Harvard School of Public Health is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University, located in the Longwood Area of the Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Mission Hill, which is next to Harvard Medical School. HSPH is considered a significant school focusing on health in the...
, where he taught for 26 years. In 1976, he was appointed the tenth president of Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
in Massachusetts, where he proceeded to establish the first graduate school of nutrition in the United States. Shortly after being appointed Chancellor of the University, Mayer died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at age 72.
Work on hunger
Following in the footsteps of his father, Mayer devoted much of his time and attention to hunger issues. Many of the 750 articles and ten books he wrote were concerned with issues such as famine and nutrition policies. Mayer also served as an advisor on food issues to three U.S. Presidents and U.S. Department of State, the World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, and the United Nations' Childrens Fund. He was chairman of the 1969 White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health, the work of which paved the way for the subsequent establishment of the food stamp program and the expansion of reduced-price school lunch programs for poor children.
Mayer was politically active in other realms, as well. He was the first scientist to speak out against the use of herbicides in the Vietnam War, and he helped sponsor scholarship programs that sent non-white South Africans to mixed-race universities in their home country.
He was awarded the Bolton S. Corson Medal in 1978 for outstanding contribution to human nutrition.