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Administrative History

George Stoddard was born in 1897 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. He received his Bachelor's of Arts degree at Pennsylvania State College in 1921, earned a diplome from the University of Paris in 1923, and was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1925. After receiving his doctorate, he joined the faculty of the Psychology department at the University of Iowa, attaining the rank of Full Professor in 1929. While at Iowa, he served as the Dean of the Graduate College, 1936-1942; director of the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station, 1928-1942; and Head of the Department of Psychology, 1938-1939. In addition, he wrote around 150 articles and seven books on topics related to child development, including tests and measurements, child psychology, child education, parent education, and higher education. On July 1, 1942, Stoddard took office as President of the University of the State of New York and Commissioner of Education.

Stoddard's tenure as Commissioner of Education was dominated by World War II, and the activities of the New York State Education Department to aid in the state's war effort. Among his accomplishments were securing funding for the establishment of a chain of junior colleges in New York State, as well as working with State War Council to provide job training for 750,000 people working in war-related factories. After World War II, Stoddard aided in the planning for expected enrollment increases in New York State colleges and universities, due to the return of GI's from the war front.

Stoddard resigned as Commissioner of Education on June 30th, 1946, in order to become president of the University of Illinois. After seven years at Illinois, he moved to New York University, where he held successive positions as the director of NYU's self-study program, dean of education, and, from 1960-1964, Chancellor and Executive Vice President of the University. Stoddard retired from education in 1969 as Chancellor of Long Island University. He passed away on December 28, 1981 in New York.