1960-1973 William R. Wood
Wood assumed the presidency of the University of Alaska in 1960, a year after Alaska
became a state, and guided the university for the next 13 years. Prior to that, he
had been vice president of the University of Nevada and had served in the U.S. Navy
during World War II.
With statehood, Alaskans were able to provide greater funding for university operations
and physical plant development. Federal funds also became available to help the rapidly
growing institution broaden its academic, research, and public-service programs.
A decentralization of the administration to bring the university closer to the people
it serves, began in 1964. Subsequently three regions—northern, southeastern, and southcentral—were
established, each with a provost to coordinate and direct activities within it. Regional
centers were established at Anchorage and Juneau, where community college programs
were augmented by upper-division and graduate studies. Community colleges were organized
at Palmer, Sitka, Kodiak, and Bethel and on the Kenai Peninsula.
During Dr. Wood's presidency, the Fairbanks campus gained a new residence hall complex,
gymnasium, classroom buildings, a heating and power plant, a library-fine arts complex,
and a campus activity center. In 1964 an area was selected on the campus' West Ridge
for further expansion, primarily of research facilities. The first of these was the
Alaska Water Laboratory, built and operated by the U.S. Public Health Service. A building
for biological research and a new facility for the burgeoning Geophysical Institute
went up on the ridge.
Wood served on countless national and international education boards and committees
and was very active in the Alaska community. His wife, Dorothy Jane, is widely acknowledged
as an important element in his success.
After his retirement from Ï㽶ÊÓƵin 1973, he served as mayor of Fairbanks. He helped lead
the drive to create Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and continued in his strong commitment
to the beautification of Fairbanks through the Festival Fairbanks Foundation. His
efforts included the Golden Heart Plaza and the Cushman Street Bridge of Flags, among
many others. Wood remained active on the University of Alaska Foundation Board of
Trustees. He was also president emeritus. Wood and his wife were both given honorary
doctorates by the University of Alaska Board of Regents in 1990. William R. Wood passed
away in February 2001 at the age of 94.
Ï㽶ÊÓƵSite named after Willam Ransom Wood
William Ransom Wood is also mentioned in these articles:
Wood Presidency Draws to a Close
Public Service: An Added Dimension, Fairbanks Flood 1967
Ï㽶ÊÓƵHonorary Degrees: 1989
Ï㽶ÊÓƵPresident's Medal for Excellence
Ï㽶ÊÓƵRegent: Leslie Nerland
Sources:
Cashen, William R. Farthest North College President. Fairbanks: University of Alaska Press, 1972
Cole, Terrence. The Cornerstone on College Hill. Fairbanks: University of Alaska Pres, 1994. Print. ISBN: 0912006579