Wes Meierhenry
Hall of Fame Class of 2003
Wes Meierhenry was a professor for 43 years (1943 to 1986) at the University of Nebraska. He dedicated his professional life to adult and continuing education and media. His pioneer work with audio-visual media led to educational opportunities being made available for the many beyond the boundaries of a university campus.
Many of Dr. Meierhenry's graduate students are today's leaders in adult and continuing education throughout Nebraska and the U.S. During his years of service to the University of Nebraska he taught nearly 4,000 graduate and undergraduate students and advised 228 masters and 168 doctoral candidates. Of those who received doctorates four are presidents of universities; one is a CEO of a nationally recognized consortium of state universities and land-grant colleges, and there are numerous vice chancellors, college deans, associate deans, department heads, college principals, superintendents, high school principals and media specialists.
Meierhenry's research and educational theories are widely published in many languages in books, journals and other publications. He was the adult education founder in theoretically based media research leading the way with a 1952 Carnegie funded study in the Use of Motion Pictures, the first foundation funded project in educational media. He served on 14 national commissions and study groups as well as presented and advised on assignments throughout the world. He also served as Vice President of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) from 1979 to 1980.
Meierhenry received three major awards for his work in continuing education in 1978: the University of Nebraska Board of Regents Meritorious Service Award, the Adult and Continuing Education Association of Nebraska Distinguished Service Award, and the Adult Education Association of America Meritorious Award. He also received the Distinguished Service Award from Educational Communication and Technology in 1980.
Upon his golden anniversary in teaching, the university of Nebraska established a distinguished professorship in Dr. Meierhenry's name in honor of his exemplary service to education.