Asa S. Knowles
Encyclopedia
Asa Smallidge Knowles was the ninth President of the University of Toledo
and the third President of Northeastern University. A graduate of Thayer Academy
, Knowles went on to earn his AB from Bowdoin College
in 1930 and his MA from Boston University
a few years later, Knowles began his teaching career at Northeastern, leaving for several years for administrative positions at the University of Rhode Island
, the Associated Colleges of Upper New York (1946–1948), Cornell University (1948–1951), and the University of Toledo. During his time as president of Northeastern, lasting from 1959 to 1975, he expanded the physical campus and changed Northeastern's image from a "technical school" to a more professional university. Significantly, during his tenure, enrollment at Northeastern was increased from 15,000 undergraduates all the way up to 35,000 and up to 50 academic programs were added.
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
and the third President of Northeastern University. A graduate of Thayer Academy
Thayer Academy
Thayer Academy is a private, co-educational, college-preparatory day school located in Braintree, Massachusetts. The academy, conceived in 1871 at the bequest of General Sylvanus Thayer, the father of the United States Military Academy, was founded in 1877...
, Knowles went on to earn his AB from Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in 1930 and his MA from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
a few years later, Knowles began his teaching career at Northeastern, leaving for several years for administrative positions at the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
, the Associated Colleges of Upper New York (1946–1948), Cornell University (1948–1951), and the University of Toledo. During his time as president of Northeastern, lasting from 1959 to 1975, he expanded the physical campus and changed Northeastern's image from a "technical school" to a more professional university. Significantly, during his tenure, enrollment at Northeastern was increased from 15,000 undergraduates all the way up to 35,000 and up to 50 academic programs were added.