Murray G. Ross
Encyclopedia
Murray George Ross, OC
, O.Ont
(April 12, 1910 – July 20, 2000) was a Canadian
sociologist, author, and academic administrator. He was the founding president of Toronto
's York University
and served in that role from 1959 to 1970.
Born in Sydney
, Nova Scotia
, Ross received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and sociology from Acadia University
in 1936. He received a Master of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Toronto
in 1938. He did post-graduate work in sociology at the University of Chicago
in 1939 and in Social psychology
from Columbia University
in 1949. He received a LL.D. from the University of Toronto in 1971.
In 1951, Ross was appointed an associate professor of Social Work at the University of Toronto. He became a Professor in 1955. From 1956 to 1957, he was an Executive Assistant to the President and was a Vice-President from 1957 to 1959. In 1959, he was appointed President of York University and served until 1970 when he became a Professor of Social Science. He retired in 1972.
"in recognition of his innovative leadership in the field of higher education". He was awarded the Order of Ontario
in 1988. He was awarded the Canadian Centennial Medal
and the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
.
The Murray Ross Parkway, the Ross Building, and the Murray G. Ross Award at York University are named after him.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, O.Ont
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(April 12, 1910 – July 20, 2000) was a Canadian
Canada
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...
sociologist, author, and academic administrator. He was the founding president of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
and served in that role from 1959 to 1970.
Born in Sydney
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Ross received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and sociology from Acadia University
Acadia University
Acadia University is a predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level...
in 1936. He received a Master of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1938. He did post-graduate work in sociology at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1939 and in Social psychology
Social psychology (sociology)
Social psychology , known as sociological social psychology, and sometimes as psychological sociology, is an area of sociology that focuses on social actions and on interrelations of personality, values, and mind with social structure and culture...
from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1949. He received a LL.D. from the University of Toronto in 1971.
In 1951, Ross was appointed an associate professor of Social Work at the University of Toronto. He became a Professor in 1955. From 1956 to 1957, he was an Executive Assistant to the President and was a Vice-President from 1957 to 1959. In 1959, he was appointed President of York University and served until 1970 when he became a Professor of Social Science. He retired in 1972.
Honours
In 1979, he was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
"in recognition of his innovative leadership in the field of higher education". He was awarded the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
in 1988. He was awarded the Canadian Centennial Medal
Canadian Centennial Medal
The Canadian Centennial Medal is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1967 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation and was awarded to Canadians who were recommended by governments and professional, educational and cultural associations, as well as...
and the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
The 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada...
.
The Murray Ross Parkway, the Ross Building, and the Murray G. Ross Award at York University are named after him.
Selected works
- Religious Beliefs of Youth: A Study and Analysis of the Structure and Function of the Religious Beliefs of Young Adults, Based on a Questionnaire Sample of 1,935 Youth and Intensive Interviews with 100 Young People (Association Press, 1950)
- The Y.M.C.A. in Canada: The Chronicle of a Century (Ryerson Press, 1951)
- New Understandings of Leadership: A Survey and Application of Research with Charles E. Hendry (Association Press, 1957)
- Case Histories in Community Organization (Harper, 1958)
- The new university (University of Toronto Press, 1961)
- New Universities in the Modern World (St. Martin's Press, 1966)
- Community Organization; Theory, Principles, and Practice with B. W. Lappin (Harper & Row, 1967)
- The University: The Anatomy of Academe (McGraw-Hill, 1976)
- Canadian Corporate Directors on the Firing Line: On the Firing Line (McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1980)
- The Way Must be Tried: Memoirs of a University Man (Stoddart, 1992)
External links
- Installation of First York U. President, Murray G. Ross from YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Murray Ross
- Murray George Ross fonds