UC Berkeley Web Feature
Tributes to Clark Kerr
| "In my view he was the architect
of the system of public higher education in California,
which became the model for the United States. He was
also Berkeley’s first chancellor and spent a
good deal of time assuring Berkeley’s academic
excellence, which had been sorely tested by the loyalty
oath fight. In addition, he was very sensitive to student
concerns, especially the provision of campus housing
for them." -I. Michael Heyman Chancellor, UC Berkeley, 1980-90 |
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"Clark Kerr earned his master’s
degree at Stanford’s School of Education and,
of course, we are proud of that association. But, moreover,
we are proud to call ourselves educators in large part
because of the honor and excellence he brought to the
nation’s colleges and universities. Dr. Kerr
was instrumental in building an educational system
that is the envy of the rest of the world. His contributions
live on, and I can think of no more fitting memorial
than for all citizens to rededicate themselves to the
support of the nation’s schools — in every
community, at every level — during these challenging
times for the educational system." -John L. Hennessy President, Stanford University |
| "Clark Kerr is one of that very rare breed that is simultaneously
visionary, capable of translating his visions into practical programs
and actions, and able to manage those programs and actions once they
are in place. He was above all a brave man who stayed the course
in the face of vilification from both left and right during his years
of leadership." -Neil J. Smelser Professor emeritus, Sociology |
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"I was surprised as well as honored
to be chosen by Clark Kerr as an acting chancellor of UC
Berkeley at the end of 1964. The tasks we shared in the
unchartered academic turbulence of the time changed my life
and his life but not our values and interests in universities.
Clark had this extraordinary devotion to professors, to
students, to academic freedom — as he exhibited again
and again during his career — and devotion to both
the economy and the society of California and this great
university.
He was one of those great rarities, an academic executive
who was a superb scholar, both in economics and industrial
relations and also, of course, in higher education and the
nature of learning." -Martin Meyerson President emeritus, University of Pennsylvania Acting chancellor, UC Berkeley, 1965 |
| "He was the greatest American university
president of the second half of the 20th century, and one
of the most intellectual presidents of a university here
or anywhere." -Sheldon Rothblatt Former director, Center for Studies in Higher Education |
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"In an age when the terms ‘visionary’ and ‘genius’ are
too easily used to describe the unworthy, they clearly embody the
very essence of Clark Kerr. Every student and every campus leader alive
today
owes Kerr a great debt of gratitude — for it was his vision, and
his bold determination that helped create the modern university,
and the idea that students from all walks of life should have access
to college. It is no understatement to say that Kerr helped create public higher education in America with his sweeping design of what we now know as the University of California System, the California State University System, and the California Community College System. This postsecondary system — designed for both broad access and excellence in research and teaching — not only transformed educational opportunity in California for several generations, but also transformed public higher education nationally as it was emulated and copied by other states. He did, however, live long enough to become a respected critic of some of the outcomes of his proposals." -David Ward President, American Council on Education |
| "It has been my privilege to have known and worked with
Clark Kerr for 43 years. He was my friend, mentor, role model, and
colleague, and I join with his countless friends and admirers worldwide
in saying
how deeply he will be missed. He was a quiet, unassuming, wise, courageous,
and independent man whose influence on American higher education,
and especially the University of California, for the greater part
of the
20th century is without peer. It is very unlikely that we will see
his kind again. Fortunate were we at the University of California
that Clark
Kerr devoted to this institution so much of his talent, energy, and
remarkable life." -David
Pierpont Gardner UC President Emeritus |
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"No other university president of the 20th
century was as influential or as celebrated as Clark Kerr.
Renowned for his scholarship in the field of higher education,
several generations of presidents and academic administrators
have greatly benefitted from his experience and counsel.
He taught us not only how to lead great universities but,
perhaps more importantly, how to act with courage and dignity.
It was an honor and privilege to have known and worked with
him." -Jack W. Peltason UC President Emeritus |