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Graham Spanier

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Graham Spanier
16th
In office
1995–present
Preceded byJoab Thomas
Personal details
BornJuly 18, 1948
Cape Town, South Africa
SpouseSandra Spanier
ChildrenBrian, Hadley
WebsiteOffice of the President

Graham B. Spanier is the 16th and current president of the Pennsylvania State University. He succeeded Joab Thomas on September 1, 1995. During his tenure the campus has expanded considerably, including the creation of the Schreyer Honors College, the College of Information Sciences and Technology, the Penn State World Campus and merger with the Dickinson School of Law. Spanier continues to hold leadership positions on national councils and boards related to higher education.

Education

Graham Spanier, awarding medals to Schreyer Honors College graduates on December 16, 2005

Spanier graduated from Highland Park High School (Highland Park, Illinois), and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Iowa State University where he was honored with the Distinguished Achievement Citation by the ISU Alumni Association in 2004.[1] He earned his Ph.D.. in sociology from Northwestern University where he was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. While a researcher, he contributed to the publication of ten books and over 100 scholarly journal articles. As a family sociologist, demographer, and marriage and family therapist, he was the founding editor of the Journal of Family Issues.[2]

Career in Higher Education

Early career

Spanier served as chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Oregon State University, and vice provost for undergraduate studies at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He was a faculty member and administrator from 1973-1982 in Penn State's College of Health and Human Development. He and his wife, Sandra, have two children, Brian and Hadley, both of whom have attended Penn State University.

Modern Leadership

He has served on national boards such as: the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, deputy chair of the Worldwide Universities Network, the Board of Directors and a founding member of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development, and chair of the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities.[citation needed]

He has also held leadership roles in other organizations, such as: president of the National Council on Family Relations chairman of the Board of Directors of the Christian Children's Fund, chair of the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, and Board of Trustees of the National 4-H Council.[citation needed]

Spanier's annual salary, currently set at $545,016, is determined by a sub-committee of the University Board of Trustees. His compensation is ranked third among his peers at surveyed public universities nationwide.[3]

Spanier has an expressed interest in internet technology: he was a founding member of the Internet2 board. In 1997, Spanier was recognized by Al Gore for his work on the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID).[4] More recently, Spanier has become an outspoken critic of unmonitored online file sharing, and testified before Congress in 2002 about the issue. He was the first University president to collaborate with music companies in an effort to halt illegal file sharing among students when Penn State signed a contract with Napster that provided all students access to Napster's music catalog. In 2007 he signed a contract with Ruckus Network which provides ad-supported access to millions of songs and videos to Penn State Students. He currently serves as co-chair of the Committee on Higher Education and the Entertainment Industry.[citation needed]

Colleges and universities are collaborative communities. In that spirit, many different segments of academia have contributed their views and perspectives on how higher education should address the issues posed by illegal file-sharing. And we have some level of responsibility for the well being of millions of young men and women who, while in the transition from adolescence to adulthood, are massive consumers of entertainment products at the same time they are developing personal value systems.

— Graham Spanier, "Peer to Peer Piracy on University Campuses: An Update"[5]

Hobbies and Community Service

Spanier playing washboard with the Deacons of Dixieland during freshman welcome week.

Spanier is a washboard player for the jazz bands Deacons of Dixieland and Phyrst Family.[6] Spanier is also a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, an all-male music fraternity.

Spanier is of the Jewish faith.[7] Every year, he gives a speech at the Penn State Hillel's Rosh Hashanah evening service. Spanier also hosts a National Public Radio show on WPSU-TV titled "To the Best of My Knowledge", where he hosts discussion of contemporary social issues.

Dr. Spanier has also appeared on the student radio station, The LION 90.7fm (WKPS), most recently on March 21, 2007 on the station's popular morning talk program, The Wake Up Call[8]. The archived show can be heard here.

Spanier serves as adviser for the Penn State Performing Magicians, and holds a Commercial Pilot certificate. Spanier is a 9-time champion of the University intramural racquetball tournament with partner Fredina Ingold, a World and U.S. racquetball champion.[9]

References

  1. ^ Anderson, John (2004-04-13). "Iowa State honors alumni and friends in new ceremony". Iowa State University. Retrieved 2007-01-23.
  2. ^ "Editorial Board". Journal of Family Issues. SAGE Publications. Retrieved 2007-01-23.
  3. ^ Smeltz, Adam (2006-11-21). "Spanier gets top dollar". Centre Daily Times. Retrieved 2007-01-23.
  4. ^ Wood, Greg (1997-10-01). "New national networking organization established by 112 U.S. research universities". Internet2. Retrieved 2007-01-23.
  5. ^ Spanier, Graham (2004-10-05). "Peer to Peer Piracy on University Campuses: An Update". Testimony before the House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property By the Joint Committee of the Higher Education and Entertainment Communities. Office of the President. Penn State University. Retrieved 2007-01-20.
  6. ^ Hainer, Anne (2004-02-23). "Motivation provided by variety of local artists". The Daily Collegian.
  7. ^ Lipowsky, Josh (2006-06-22). "Second time around". The Jewish Standard. Retrieved 2007-01-23.
  8. ^ "Exclusive Interview w/ PSU Pres Graham Spanier". The LION 90.7fm. 2006-06-22. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  9. ^ Hennessey, Stephen. "Spanier's title run snapped". The Daily Collegian. {{cite web}}: Text "2008-04-16" ignored (help)
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