Lawrence S. Bacow
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Seldon Bacow is an American lawyer
and economist
. He served as the twelfth president
of Tufts University
from September 2001 until August 2011. His research focuses primarily on environmental policy
, and he held faculty appointments in five departments at Tufts. Bacow is an expert on non-adjudicatory approaches to the resolution of environmental disputes, and is well-known as an advocate of broader access to higher education and the importance of need-based financial aid. He has been described as "perhaps the most respected university president in the country."
, Bacow received his S.B. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, his J.D. from Harvard Law School
and his M.P.P.
and Ph.D. from Harvard University
's Kennedy School of Government.
Bacow has authored four books and numerous articles, and has consulted extensively throughout the world. Prior to Tufts, he was chancellor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 2003. On February 8, 2010 in an email to the student body he announced that he will be stepping down as President of Tufts in June 2011. On March 1, 2010, President Barack Obama announced that Bacow was appointed to the board of advisors for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Bacow is an avid runner, with five marathons under his belt. As a youth, Bacow attained the rank of Eagle Scout
in the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA). As an adult, the BSA awarded him the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
. He and his wife Adele Fleet Bacow have two sons, Jay and Ken. He is allergic to cats and most dogs.
On May 25, 2011, Bacow was named as a member of the Harvard Corporation, the board tasked with guiding the endeavors and initiatives of Harvard University.
as president of Harvard University
, Bacow categorically denied interest in the position, saying, "I took this job [Tufts] expecting it to be my last. I still do."
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and economist
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. He served as the twelfth president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
from September 2001 until August 2011. His research focuses primarily on environmental policy
Environmental economics
Environmental economics is a subfield of economics concerned with environmental issues. Quoting from the National Bureau of Economic Research Environmental Economics program:...
, and he held faculty appointments in five departments at Tufts. Bacow is an expert on non-adjudicatory approaches to the resolution of environmental disputes, and is well-known as an advocate of broader access to higher education and the importance of need-based financial aid. He has been described as "perhaps the most respected university president in the country."
Biography
A native of MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, Bacow received his S.B. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, his J.D. from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
and his M.P.P.
Master of Public Policy
The Master of Public Policy , one of several public policy degrees, is a master's level professional degree that provides training in policy analysis and program evaluation at public policy schools. The MPP program places a focus on the systematic analysis of issues related to public policy and the...
and Ph.D. from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Kennedy School of Government.
Bacow has authored four books and numerous articles, and has consulted extensively throughout the world. Prior to Tufts, he was chancellor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 2003. On February 8, 2010 in an email to the student body he announced that he will be stepping down as President of Tufts in June 2011. On March 1, 2010, President Barack Obama announced that Bacow was appointed to the board of advisors for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Bacow is an avid runner, with five marathons under his belt. As a youth, Bacow attained the rank of Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
in the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
(BSA). As an adult, the BSA awarded him the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America . It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout...
. He and his wife Adele Fleet Bacow have two sons, Jay and Ken. He is allergic to cats and most dogs.
On May 25, 2011, Bacow was named as a member of the Harvard Corporation, the board tasked with guiding the endeavors and initiatives of Harvard University.
Speculation
After Bacow was mentioned in the Chronicle of Higher Education in 2006 as a possible candidate to succeed Lawrence SummersLawrence Summers
Lawrence Henry Summers is an American economist. He served as the 71st United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He was Director of the White House United States National Economic Council for President Barack Obama until November 2010.Summers is the...
as president of Harvard University
President of Harvard University
The President of Harvard University is the chief administrator of the university. Ex officio the chairman of the Harvard Corporation, he or she is appointed by and is responsible to the other members of that body, who delegate to him or her the day-to-day running of the university...
, Bacow categorically denied interest in the position, saying, "I took this job [Tufts] expecting it to be my last. I still do."
External links
- Office of the President - Tufts University
- Lawrence S. Bacow biography - Tufts University
- The President's Marathon Challenge
- Larry Bacow Playlist Appearance on WMBR's Dinnertime Sampler radio show April 27, 2005