John Summerskill
Encyclopedia
John Henry Summerskill was an educator who served as the seventh president of San Francisco State University
in the 1960s. Prior to this he was Vice President for Student Affairs at Cornell University
. In the 1970s he was named President of Athens College
in Greece. He later moved to New Jersey where he established a vineyard and became president of the New Jersey Wine Growers Association.
where he attended public schools before graduating from McGill University
in Montreal
excelling in football as well as academics. He received his PhD
in clinical psychology
from the University of Pennsylvania
.
.
After two years of turmoil he abruptly departed for Ethiopia
. He worked in Addis Ababa
at Haile Sellassie University (now Addis Ababa University
) on a grant from the Ford Foundation
. Later he became president of Athens College
in Greece.
where he established a vineyard with his wife, Mimi LaFollette Summerskill
. They sold their wine under the name LaFollette and he was chosen president of the New Jersey Wine Growers Association. Their vineyard became the gathering place for policy and political discussions.The 1989 harvest and the people who helped pick the grapes was featured in an article in the Wine Spectator
.
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
in the 1960s. Prior to this he was Vice President for Student Affairs at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. In the 1970s he was named President of Athens College
Athens College
Athens College is a co-educational private independent school in Psychiko, Greece, a suburb of Athens, part of the Hellenic-American Educational Foundation which also includes Psychiko College, although both schools are usually referred to as "Athens College"...
in Greece. He later moved to New Jersey where he established a vineyard and became president of the New Jersey Wine Growers Association.
Education
He was born and raised in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where he attended public schools before graduating from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
excelling in football as well as academics. He received his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in clinical psychology
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
Academic career
Joining the faculty of Cornell in the 1950s, he remained in Ithaca as a member of the faculty and administrator for fifteen years at which time he was named president of San Francisco State. His tenure in San Francisco was marked by student protests and clashes with Governor Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
After two years of turmoil he abruptly departed for Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. He worked in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
at Haile Sellassie University (now Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa University is a university in Ethiopia. It was originally named "University College of Addis Ababa" at its founding, then renamed for the former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I in 1962, receiving its current name in 1975.Although the university has six of its seven campuses within...
) on a grant from 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....
. Later he became president of Athens College
Athens College
Athens College is a co-educational private independent school in Psychiko, Greece, a suburb of Athens, part of the Hellenic-American Educational Foundation which also includes Psychiko College, although both schools are usually referred to as "Athens College"...
in Greece.
Vintner
In the 1980s Dr. Summerskill retired from academic life and moved to Belle Mead, New JerseyBelle Mead, New Jersey
Belle Mead is a census-designated place which straddles Montgomery Township and Hillsborough Township in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Up until about 1875, Belle Mead, then named Plainville, was part of Harlingen. It was a quiet farming region when about that time a New York City contractor named...
where he established a vineyard with his wife, Mimi LaFollette Summerskill
Mimi LaFollette Summerskill
Miriam LaFollette "Mimi" Summerskill was an educator, author, political activist, and vineyard owner.-Early Years and Education:Mimi was the eldest of four children...
. They sold their wine under the name LaFollette and he was chosen president of the New Jersey Wine Growers Association. Their vineyard became the gathering place for policy and political discussions.The 1989 harvest and the people who helped pick the grapes was featured in an article in the Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator is a lifestyle magazine that focuses on wine and wine culture. It publishes 15 issues per year with content that includes news, articles, profiles, and general entertainment pieces...
.