C. Peter Magrath

Hall of Fame Class of 1998

C. Peter Magrath assumed the presidency of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) in 1992. As CEO of the nation’s oldest higher education association, he represents NASULGC’s member institutions in Washington, D.C. and in educational settings around the nation on issues of national importance to the higher education community. NASULGC’s universities enroll more than 2.9 million students and award about one-third of all bachelor’s and master’s degrees and 60 percent of the doctorates earned in the U.S. Dr. Magrath took over the leadership of NASULGC as the association charted a new course for the 1990s by implementing a plan to reorganize and streamline its structure.

Dr. Magrath brought a broad perspective on higher education to his NASULGC job. He has a long history of leadership in international education activities, and in September 1992 he was appointed and served on the Commission on the Future of the National Science Foundation, a 15-member group of scientists, industrialists, and academic leaders whose recommendations help chart future directions for the foundation. A political scientist with a Ph.D. from Cornell University, he served as president of the University of Missouri System (1985-91); president of the University of Minnesota, whose 60,000 students make it the largest U.S. campus in terms of enrollment (1974-84); and president of the State University of New York at Binghamton (1972-74).

Between 1968 and 1972, Dr. Magrath held faculty and administrative posts at the University of Nebraska--Lincoln. He began his academic career at Brown University, where he rose from instructor to professor of political science as well as serving as associate dean.

The author of numerous books, monographs, and articles on American constitutional law and history, higher education, and international affairs, he has been active on many national higher education commissions, task forces, and committees, including the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities.