University of Washington Presidents

Asa Shinn Mercer

1861-1863

Born in Bureau County (Princeton), Illinois on June 6, 1839. He was the first President of the Territorial University of Washington and served from 1861 to 1863. He was a graduate of Franklin College in Ohio and was elected to the Washington State Senate. In later life he was a cattleman. He died in Buffalo, Wyoming on August 10, 1917 at the age of 78.

William Edward Barnard

1863-1866  The University was closed from 1867-69

Born in Boston, Massachusetts on June 16, 1834, He was a graduate of Dartmouth College. He served as President of the Territorial University of Washington from 1863 to 1866 having previously served as President of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. He was also a successful lumberman. He died on the steamship Magnolia while en route from China to Japan on July 11, 1910 at the age of 76.

George Fred Whitworth

1866-1867

Born in Boston, England, March 15, 1816, he attended Hanover College and New Albany Seminary in Indiana. He twice served as President of the Territorial University 1866-1868 and 1874 to 1876 and was also the founder of Whitworth College. He was a Presbyterian minister and died on October 6, 1907 in Seattle at the age of 91.

John Henry Hall

1869-1872

Born in New York City, May 4, 1837 he attended Columbia College and graduated from Oberlin College, Ohio. He served as Territorial President of the University of Washington from 1869 to 1872 and was also a real estate dealer and promoter. He died September 9, 1899 in Tacoma at the age of 62.

Eugene Kincaid Hill

1872-1874

Born in 1845. He served as President of the Territorial University from 1872 to 1874. Died on January 31, 1899 from either rheumatism of the heart or scurvy while stranded with his son in their winter quarters on the Alsec River in Alaska.

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Mary W. (May) Thayer

1874 The University was closed for part of 1874 and 1876

Born in 1838 in either New York, Massachusetts or Michigan (the record is unclear) she was a graduate of the State Normal School in Ypsilanti Michigan. She was President of the Territorial University of Washington from March thru August 1874 and was later Preceptress at the Ionia High School in Ionia, Michigan.

See photo above

George Fred Whitworth

1874-1876

See bio above

Alexander Jay Anderson

1877-1882

Born in Scotland in 1832 he emigrated to the United States and took up residency near Joliet, Illinois. He graduated from Knox College at Galesburg in 1856. Before his term as President of the University he was the chair of mathematics and Dean of Academy at the Pacific University of Forest Grove, Oregon and Principle of Central School in Portland. He served five years as the President of the University of Washington, from 1877 to 1882. In 1882 he resigned as President of the University of Washington to become the President of Whitman College in Walla Walla. Anderson retired in Ellensburg and died in Olympia, Washington on March 17, 1903.

Leonard Jackson Powell

1882-1887

Born in Oates County, Kentucky in 1834 Powell was educated at the Wesleyan University of Delaware, Ohio and graduated in 1861. Before his service as President of the University of Washington Powell served fourteen years as a mathematics instructor at Willamette University of Salem, served as President of the Albany Collegiate Institute, and spent four years as Superintendent of Public Instruction in Oregon. Apart from academics he was an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Powell was chosen as President of the University of Washington in 1882 and served in the capacity until his death from cholera morbus on August 17, 1887 in Seattle, Washington at the age of 53 years.

Thomas Milton Gatch

1887-1895

Born in Clermont County Ohio on January 29, 1833 Gatch was educated at the Ohio Wesleyan University of Greencastle Indiana. He graduated in 1855 with an A.B. degree and went on to attend DePauw University for his Ph.D. degree. He emigrated to San Francisco in 1856 and, after first attempting a career in mining, became the chair of mathematics and natural sciences at the University of the Pacific at Santa Clara. In 1859 Gatch moved to Olympia, Washington to become principal of the Puget Sound Wesleyan Institute. Between 1859 and his appointment as President of the University of Washington in 1887 he served as chair of ancient languages and moral sciences at Willamette University of Salem Oregon, Principal of Portland Academy, President of Willamette University, professor of history and English literature at the University of Oregon, and principal of the Wasco Independent Academy at the Dalles. Gatch served as President of the University of Washington between 1887-1894. He Died April 23, 1913 in Seattle, Washington at 80 years of age.

Mark Walrod Harrington

1895-1897

Born in Sycamore, Illinois in 1848 Harrington attended the University of Michigan and received his MA and MS degrees in 1868. He began his teaching career at the University of Michigan and taught there until 1876. Between 1876 and his recruitment as President of the University of Washington in 1895 Harrington studied at the University of Leipzig, Germany, served as a professor of Mathematics at the University of Peking, China, and was appointed Chief of the Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C. When Harrington was removed from the Weather Bureau by President Grover Cleveland he was recruited as President of the University of Washington. He served as president of the University from 1895 until 1897. He returned to the Weather Bureau in 1898 and retired in June 1899. Harrington disappeared from his home in October of 1899. Harrington was not found until being identified by his wife at the State Hospital in Morristown, New Jersey in 1908, where he had been admitted as "John Doe No. VIII", after she had seen a newspaper article about a brilliant but unknown patient at the hospital. According to his wife mental condition was a result of being struck by lightning on the University of Washington Campus during his tenure as President. Harrington never recovered and he died in the New Jersey State Hospital on September 10, 1926.

William Franklin Edwards

1897

Born in 1858 in Rock Island Illinois. Edwards graduated from the University of Michigan in 1890. He joined the University of Washington faculty on September 4, 1895 as a Professor of Physics. After President Harrington’s resignation on March 24, 1897 Edwards was appointed President. He served as President until October 1 of 1897 when he was replaced by Charles Francis Reeves. After his service as president not much is known until he became the Director of Research for the United States Testing Company of New York in 1918 he served on the faculty until his death on January 14, 1933 in Englewood, New Jersey.

Charles Francis Reeves

1897-98 [Acting]

Born in Allentown, New Jersey in 1854 Reeves immigrated to Seattle in 1889. He became a French and German professor at the University of Washington. After serving as a professor for eight years he was appointed acting President of the University in 1897. He served one year as President and was replaced in 1898. After his service as president he worked for the United States Customs Service in Seattle. He died on December 31, 1933 in Seattle, Washington.

Frank Pierrepont Graves

1898-1902

Born in Brooklyn, New York on July 23, 1869. He attended Columbia University and received a Bachelor and Master of Arts as well as a PH.D. in Philosophy. Graves taught Greek at Columbia, became professor of classics at Tufts College, and President of the University of Wyoming. In 1898 Graves became President of the University of Washington. He served as President of the University until 1902. After his service he attended Columbia University again and received a doctorate in education. Between his doctorate in education and his appointment as State Commissioner of Education in 1921 Graves served as the dean of education at the University of Missouri, University of Pennsylvania, and Ohio State University. He also served on the faculty of the Teachers College of Columbia University. He was elected as the Education Commissioner and President of the New York State University in 1921 and served as State Commissioner of Education for nineteen years until he retired in 1940 at age 71. At that age he enrolled in the Albany Law School and completed his dream of receiving a law degree. In 1943 he passed State Bar Examinations. When he died September 13, 1956 he held a total of 43 degrees.

Thomas Franklin Kane

1902-1914

Born in Westfield, Indiana in 1863 Kane graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle Indiana in 1889. He later received a masters degree from the same school in 1891. Kane then attended Johns Hopkins University for a law degree. Before becoming President of the University of Washington Kane joined the University of Washington faculty as a professor of Latin and Greek. He became President of the University in 1902 and served in the facility until 1914. Between his Presidency at the University of Washington and his retirement from education in 1933 he served as President of both Olivet College in Olivet Michigan as well as the University of North Dakota. He died April 10, 1953 in Seattle Washington at the age of 89.

Henry Landes

1914-1915  [Acting]

Born in Carroll County Illinois in 1868 Landes earned two B.A. degrees, one from the University of Indiana and one from Harvard University. In 1893 he earned his Masters Degree from Harvard. Before becoming president he was a well known geologist. Landes served as acting president from 1914 to 1915. After his term as President of the University of Washington he became the dean of the College of Science from 1912 until he became vice dean of University College in 1934. Landes became ill during a geology study tour in Asia and died August 23, 1936 in Seattle, Washington. He was 68.

Henry Suzzallo

1915-1926

Born in San Jose, California on August 22, 1875. He was discharged in 1896 from Stanford University after his first year and he became a teacher in a California rural school. Suzzallo was readmitted to Stanford the next year and he graduated with an undergraduate degree in 1899 and attended Columbia University where he received his Masters degree in 1902 and his Ph.D. in 1905. Before becoming President of the University of Washington Suzzallo served as the deputy superintendent of city schools in San Francisco, assistant professor of education at Stanford University, and adjunct professor of educational sociology at Columbia University. In 1915 the University of Washington offered Suzzallo the Presidency of the University of Washington. Suzzallo remained President of the University until 1926. Suzzallo became President of the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching in 1930. Suzzallo died September 25, 1933 in Seattle, Washington.

David Thomson

1926-1927 [Acting]

Thomson was born in 1871 in Ontario, Canada. He attended the University of Toronto and graduated in 1892. After graduation he studied at the University of Chicago. He later served on the faculty of the same University as an assistant professor of Latin. In 1902 he became a professor of Latin at the University of Washington. During the 1908-1909 school year he studied at the University of Munich, Germany. In 1917 He became the dean of the college of Liberal Arts and served in that position until 1931. He became the acting President of the University in 1926 and served until 1927. He was named Vice President of the University of Washington in 1931 and until his retirement he served as the Vice President of the University, Dean of Academic Guidance, and Vice Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences all at the University of Washington. Thomson died October 28, 1953 at the age of 82.

Matthew Lyle Spencer

1927-1933

Born in Mississippi in 1882 Spencer had a successful newspaper career that took him from the Chief Editorial Writer of the Milwaukee Journal to the University of Washington as the head of the School of Journalism in 1919. He became President of the University in 1927 and served until 1933. Later Spencer founded the Syracuse University School of Journalism in 1934 and retired in 1951. He died February 10, 1969 in Clearwater, Florida.

Hugo Winkenwerder

1933-1934 [Acting]

Born March 16, 1878 in Watertown, Wisconsin Winkenwerder received a Bachelors degree in forestry from Yale University. Before coming to the University of Washington he was an assistant professor of forestry at Colorado Springs, Colorado. He began his work at the University of Washington in 1909 as an associate professor in the Forestry College. In 1912 Winkenwerder was named dean of the College of Forestry. He was named acting President in 1933 and served as President until 1934. Winkenweder continued his work in the Forestry College and retired as the Dean of the College of Forestry in March 1945. Winkenwerder died November 30, 1947 at age 69.

Lee Paul Sieg

1934-1946

Born on October 7, 1879 in Marshalltown, Iowa Sieg worked as a printer’s devil at a newspaper before enrolling at the University of Iowa. He received his masters in physics in 1901 and his doctorate in philosophy in 1910. He served as the head of the Department of Physics at Carleton College, Minnesota from 1903 until 1906. In 1906 until 1924 he served on the faculty of the University of Iowa. Before coming to the University of Washington in 1934 he was the Dean of the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh. He served as president from 1934 until his retirement in 1946. After his retirement he was the first to be named president emeritus. Sieg died on October 8,1963 in Seattle, Washington at the age of 84.

Raymond B. Allen

1946-1951

Born on August 7, 1902 in Cathay North Dakota. Allen was educated at the University of Minnesota and received his Ph.D. and M.D. in 1928. He served as President of the University of Washington from 1946 to 1951. In 1952 Allen served as director of the Psychological Strategy Board. He also served as the Dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Dean of the College of Medicine at Wayne State University, and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. He retired to Virginia in 1967. He died March 15, 1986 in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  He was 83.

H.P. (Dick) Everest

1952 [Acting]

Born 1894 in Fond Du Lac Wisconsin. He moved to Seattle in 1906 and attended the University of Washington for a bachelor’s degree and masters degree in science. Before coming to the University of Washington in 1938 he served as President of the Kirkland Investment Company and the publisher of the East Side Journal for 16 years. Everest served as a professor in the School of Communications and became president of the school in 1944. Everest was appointed acting President from 1951 to 1952 after which he served as Vice President. He retired from his post as Vice President in 1957. He died in Seattle on August 24, 1967.  He was 73.

Henry Schmitz

1952-1958

Born on March 25, 1892 in Seattle, Washington. Schmitz graduated from in University of Washington with honors in 1915 with a degree in forestry. He went on to earn a Masters in Botany from the University of Washington in 1916. He served in World War I and in 1919 received his Doctorate in Botany for Washington University in St. Louis. Before coming to the University of Washington he taught forestry from 1919 to 1925 at the University of Idaho and served as Chief of the Division of Forestry of the University of Minnesota. In 1944 Schmitz was named Dean of Agriculture, Forestry, Home Economics, and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Washington. In 1952 he became President of the University of Washington. He retired as President in 1958. Schmitz also served as Director of the University of Washington’s Council of Gifts, Trusts, and Bequests until 1962. He drowned in Dungeness Bay on January 30, 1965 at the age of 72.

Charles E. Odegaard

1958-1973

Born in Chicago Heights, Illinois in 1911 he earned his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in 1932 and his Master’s and Doctorate Degrees from Harvard University in 1933 and 1937. Before his work at the University of Washington he taught at the University of Illinois as well as served in the Navy during the Second World War. Odegaard served as President of the University of Washington from 1958 to 1973. He also served as a professor of both biomedical history and higher education. He died on November 14, 1999 in Seattle, Washington at the age of 88.

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Philip W. Cartwright

1973-1974 [Acting]

Born on March 24, 1919 Cartwright attended Stanford University and earned his BA in 1940, his MA in 1940, and his Ph.D. in Economics in 1950. During this time he served as an Acting Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Washington from 1947 to 1948 and Assistant Professor from 1948 to 1952. In the period from 1952 until 1960 he served as an Associate Professor in Economics. He began as a full Professor in 1960 and in 1970 was named Executive Vice President of the University of Washington. He served as acting President of the University from 1973 to 1974.

John R. Hogness

1974-1979

Born on June 27, 1922 in Oakland, California, Hogness attended the University of Chicago and received his Bachelors degree in 1943 and his MD in 1946. From 1946 until 1971 he served as a Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. In 1941 He became the President of the National Academy of Science Institute of Medicine as well as a Professor of Medicine at George Washington University in 1972. He served in both those faculties until 1974 when he became the President of the University of Washington. He served 1974 to 1979. After his service as President of the University he was the President of the Association of Academic Health Centers. In 1989 he became a Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Washington.

William P. Gerberding

1979-1995

Born on September 9, 1929 in Fargo North Dakota. He attended Macalester College for a BA that he earned in 1951. He went on to earn an MA in 1956 and a Ph.D. in 1959 from the University of Chicago. He served as a professor at the Colgate University in Hamilton, New York and UCLA. In 1972 He became the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Occidental College. He served in that position until 1975 when he was named Vice Chancellor at UCLA. He moved on to the position of Chancellor at the University of Illinois in 1978. In 1979 he became the President of the University of Washington. He served as President of the University until 1995. In 1996 he became a trustee for Macalester College and in 2000 became a member of the Gates Cambridge Trust at Cambridge University, England.

Richard McCormick

1995-2003

Lee L. Huntsman

2003-2004

Mark A. Emmert

2004-2010

Mark A. Emmert was appointed as the 30th president of the University of Washington and professor with tenure at the Evans School on June 14, 2004. He graduated from the UW in 1975 with a degree in political science. He received his master’s degree in 1976 and his doctorate in 1983, both in public administration from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. Prior to joining the Evans School's faculty, Emmert served as Chancellor of Louisiana State University and Professor of Business Administration. Prior to that, he served five years as Chancellor and Professor of Political Science of the University of Connecticut and was Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Montana State University. Earlier, he held faculty positions in the Graduate School of Public Affairs and administrative positions in the president's office of the University of Colorado.

Phyllis Wise

2010-2011 [Interim]

Michael K. Young

2011-2015

Michael K. Young became president of the University of Washington on July 1, 2011.

Ana Mari Cauce

2015— present

Ana Mari Cauce was named interim president on February 12, 2015.   The University of Washington Board of Regents selected Interim President Ana Mari Cauce to be the 33rd president on October 13, 2015.
Biography