Edward Weidner
Encyclopedia
Edward Weidner was an educator, public administration
scholar and founder of the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Weidner Center
. Edward W. Weidner was born July 7, 1921, in Minneapolis, the second of two children of Lillian and Peter Weidner. He attended public schools and graduated from Roosevelt High School
in Minneapolis in 1939.
His children enjoyed exposure to world cultures during their early years. Ed and Jean followed his education and public-service career to postings around the globe throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Edward W. Weidner began his distinguished academic career as a Phi Beta Kappa
graduate of the University of Minnesota
, where he also competed the M.A., and Ph.D. in political science
, in 1946. He first pursued his interest in public administration in graduate school, when he worked as a research associate
for the National Municipal League
. He also did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin.
at Minnesota, Dr. Weidner was assistant director of research in intergovernmental relations. He moved on to a one-year faculty post at UCLA
and then to Michigan State University
. There, over a period of 12 years beginning in 1950, he added activities in technical assistance, educational exchange, international development
and administration, serving as director of the Governmental Research Bureau, chairman of the Department of Political Science, and director of the Institute of Research on Overseas Programs. His work brought him and his family to countries including Vietnam, where he was consultant on assistance needs to the Foreign Ops Administration
, and Pakistan, consulting on rural development academies for the Ford Foundation
.
His books included The World Role of Universities (McGraw-Hill, 1962). Technical Assistance in Public Administration Overseas (Public Administration Service, 1964), and Development Administration in Asia (Duke University
Press, 1970).
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
scholar and founder of the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Weidner Center
Weidner Center
The Weidner Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA and part of University of Wisconsin–Green Bay. It is named after the university's founder, Dr. Edward Weidner. In addition to being the home of the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay's theatre and...
. Edward W. Weidner was born July 7, 1921, in Minneapolis, the second of two children of Lillian and Peter Weidner. He attended public schools and graduated from Roosevelt High School
Roosevelt High School (Minneapolis)
Roosevelt High School is a public school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is part of the Minneapolis Public Schools. The school is named after US President Theodore Roosevelt...
in Minneapolis in 1939.
His children enjoyed exposure to world cultures during their early years. Ed and Jean followed his education and public-service career to postings around the globe throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Edward W. Weidner began his distinguished academic career as a Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
graduate of the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, where he also competed the M.A., and Ph.D. in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, in 1946. He first pursued his interest in public administration in graduate school, when he worked as a research associate
Research associate
The title of research associate is used to denote an academic research position at a university or similar institution. A research associate usually conducts research under the supervision of a principal investigator. In contrast to a research assistant or research officer, a research associate...
for the National Municipal League
National Civic League
The National Civic League is an American non-profit organization that advocates for transparency, effectiveness, and openness in local government...
. He also did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin.
Career
As an assistant professorProfessor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Minnesota, Dr. Weidner was assistant director of research in intergovernmental relations. He moved on to a one-year faculty post at UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
and then to Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. There, over a period of 12 years beginning in 1950, he added activities in technical assistance, educational exchange, international development
International development
International development or global development is a concept that lacks a universally accepted definition, but it is most used in a holistic and multi-disciplinary context of human development — the development of greater quality of life for humans...
and administration, serving as director of the Governmental Research Bureau, chairman of the Department of Political Science, and director of the Institute of Research on Overseas Programs. His work brought him and his family to countries including Vietnam, where he was consultant on assistance needs to the Foreign Ops Administration
Foreign ops administration
The Foreign Ops Administration was a branch of the United States Government active until 1955 when it was abolished by Ex. Ord. No. 10610 of May 9 . Its functions and offices were transferred to the Department of State and the Department of Defense, effective June 30, 1955...
, and Pakistan, consulting on rural development academies for the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
.
His books included The World Role of Universities (McGraw-Hill, 1962). Technical Assistance in Public Administration Overseas (Public Administration Service, 1964), and Development Administration in Asia (Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
Press, 1970).