Naomi B. Lynn
Encyclopedia
Naomi Burgos Lynn was the first Hispanic woman president of an American public university. She served as President of Sangamon State University in Springfield, Illinois
, beginning in 1991 and through its entrance into the University of Illinois system
as the University of Illinois at Springfield
. She retired as Chancellor of UIS in 2001. At her retirement the Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair for Lincoln Studies was created at the University of Illinois at Springfield
, where Dr. Phillip Paludan served as its first recipient.
Born in New York
in 1933, Naomi Burgos was the daughter of Puerto Rican parents. Her sister, Ruth Burgos Sasscer, also became a university president, leading a community college in San Antonio, Texas. Naomi attended Maryville College
in Maryville, Tennessee
, where she met Robert Athan Lynn, whom she married in 1954. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Kansas and went on to become a Professor of Political Science
, and then Department Head, at Kansas State University
. She was also on the Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Review Commission. In 1988 she moved to Atlanta, Georgia
, where she became the Dean of the College of Public and Urban Affairs at Georgia State University
.
She has served as President of the American Society for Public Administration
, the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
, and the Women's Caucus for Political Science. She has also served on the boards of the American Political Science Association
, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities
, the National Academy of Public Administration
, and Maryville College
.
She has authored several books including: The Fulbright Premise: Senator J. William Fulbright
's Views on Presidential Power (1973), A Research Guide in Women's Studies
(1974), and Public Administration
: The State of the Discipline (1990). She also edited Women, Politics and the Constitution (1990). She has four daughters, Mary Lou, Nancy, Judy, and Jo-An. She also has ten grandchildren.
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, beginning in 1991 and through its entrance into the University of Illinois system
University of Illinois system
The University of Illinois is a system of public universities in Illinois consisting of three campuses: Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield. Across its three campuses, the University of Illinois enrolls about 70,000 students. It had an operating budget of $4.17 billion in 2007.-System:The...
as the University of Illinois at Springfield
University of Illinois at Springfield
The University of Illinois at Springfield is a public university in Springfield, Illinois. The University was established in 1969 as Sangamon State University by the Illinois General Assembly and became a part of the University of Illinois system on July 1, 1995.The University of Illinois at...
. She retired as Chancellor of UIS in 2001. At her retirement the Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair for Lincoln Studies was created at the University of Illinois at Springfield
University of Illinois at Springfield
The University of Illinois at Springfield is a public university in Springfield, Illinois. The University was established in 1969 as Sangamon State University by the Illinois General Assembly and became a part of the University of Illinois system on July 1, 1995.The University of Illinois at...
, where Dr. Phillip Paludan served as its first recipient.
Born in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1933, Naomi Burgos was the daughter of Puerto Rican parents. Her sister, Ruth Burgos Sasscer, also became a university president, leading a community college in San Antonio, Texas. Naomi attended Maryville College
Maryville College
Maryville College is a private four-year liberal arts college in Maryville, Tennessee, near Knoxville. It was founded in 1819 by Presbyterian minister Isaac L. Anderson for the purpose of furthering education and enlightenment into the West. The College is one of the fifty oldest colleges in the...
in Maryville, Tennessee
Maryville, Tennessee
Maryville is the county seat of Blount County, Tennessee, in the Southeastern United States. The city is located south of Knoxville. Maryville's population was 27,258 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Maryville has received a number of accolades for its...
, where she met Robert Athan Lynn, whom she married in 1954. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Kansas and went on to become a Professor of Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, and then Department Head, at Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
. She was also on the Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Review Commission. In 1988 she moved to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, where she became the Dean of the College of Public and Urban Affairs at Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
.
She has served as President of the American Society for Public Administration
American Society for Public Administration
The American Society for Public Administration is a membership association in the United States sponsoring conferences and providing professional services primarily to those who study the implementation of government policy, public administration, and, to a lesser degree, programs of civil society...
, the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization. It is an association of schools of public policy schools at universities mostly in the United States and several abroad...
, and the Women's Caucus for Political Science. She has also served on the boards of the American Political Science Association
American Political Science Association
The American Political Science Association is a professional association of political science students and scholars in the United States. Founded in 1903, it publishes three academic journals...
, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities
American Association of State Colleges and Universities
The American Association of State Colleges and Universities is an organization of state-supported colleges and universities that offer degree programs leading to bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees...
, the National Academy of Public Administration
National Academy of Public Administration (United States)
The National Academy of Public Administration was founded by James E. Webb, then-administrator of NASA, and other leading public administration practitioners in 1967 and chartered under Title 36 of the United States Code in 1984 under Public Law 98-257. The Academy is a nonprofit, nonpartisan...
, and Maryville College
Maryville College
Maryville College is a private four-year liberal arts college in Maryville, Tennessee, near Knoxville. It was founded in 1819 by Presbyterian minister Isaac L. Anderson for the purpose of furthering education and enlightenment into the West. The College is one of the fifty oldest colleges in the...
.
She has authored several books including: The Fulbright Premise: Senator J. William Fulbright
J. William Fulbright
James William Fulbright was a United States Senator representing Arkansas from 1945 to 1975.Fulbright was a Southern Democrat and a staunch multilateralist who supported the creation of the United Nations and the longest serving chairman in the history of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee...
's Views on Presidential Power (1973), A Research Guide in Women's Studies
Women's studies
Women's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective...
(1974), and Public Administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
: The State of the Discipline (1990). She also edited Women, Politics and the Constitution (1990). She has four daughters, Mary Lou, Nancy, Judy, and Jo-An. She also has ten grandchildren.