- James McNaughton Hester
. In 1942, he was graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California.
He attended
Princeton University , where he won honors in the humanities, election toPhi Beta Kappa , and was awarded an A.B. degree in 1945. After joining theUnited States Marine Corps ' officer candidate programme, he was trained to be aJapanese language officer. He subsequently served inJapan in a civilian capacity as the civil information and education officer on the Fukuoka Military Government Team.In 1947, Hester entered Pembroke College,
Oxford University , as aRhodes Scholar , earning a bachelor's degree inPhilosophy, Politics and Economics . Upon his return to theUnited States in 1950, he became assistant to the American Secretary to the Rhodes Trustees.Recalled to active duty with the Marines in 1951, Hester served seventeen months as a battalion adjutant and instructor at
Marine Corps Base Quantico , Quantico,Virginia . After leaving the services, he spent several months at theNational Archives inWashington, D.C. , doing research for his doctoral thesis. He received the D. Phil. degree from Oxford University in 1955.After three years of business experience in management consultation and consumer research, Hester returned to academic life. In 1957, he became provost (administrative and academic head) of the
Brooklyn Center ofLong Island University inNew York and subsequently Vice President ofLong Island University . In 1960, he became Dean of both undergraduate and graduate schools of arts and science atNew York University . He became 11th President of New York University in 1962, at the age of 37. The University awarded him an honorary degree (L.H.D.) in 1977.Hester was appointed first Rector of the
United Nations University in November 1974 byUnited Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim after a world-wide search. He commenced full-time duty as Rector at the University's headquarters inTokyo in September 1975.Hester served as chairman of the President's Task Force on Priorities in Higher Education in the United States (1969). He was also president and a member of the executive committee of the Association of Colleges and Universities of the State of New York, and was president and member of the board of trustees of its Commission on Independent Colleges.
Hester served on the board of the American Council on Education, on the New York State Regents Advisory Council on Higher Education and Regional Co-ordinating Council for Post Secondary Education in New York City. He was the United States member on the Administrative Board of the International Association of Universities and a member of the executive committee of the Association of American Universities.
Upon leaving the rectorship, Hester served a term as President of The New York Botanical Garden. He is currently President of the
Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation in New York, an operating foundation charged by its founder to support research on the causes, manifestations and control of violence, aggression, and dominance. This programme is carried out through grants in a wide variety of fields and by conferences and publications.Hester was married in 1953 to the former Janet Rodes. They have three children, Janet, Margaret and Martha.
Honors
Hester holds honorary degrees from many leading universities and colleges, and is a Chevalier of the
French Legion of Honour . In 1981, H.M.Emperor Showa of Japan conferred upon Hester the Order of the Sacred Treasure, First Class. [Krebs, Alvin. "Notes on People: Hester Honored," "New York Times," January 15, 1981.]ee also
References
* Krebs, Albin and Robert McG. Thomas. "Notes on People: Hester Honored," "New York Times,"January 15, 1981.
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