Armsey, James W., 1917-2008

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Ford Foundation executive.

University official.

James William Armsey was born December 13, 1917, and he received his B.S. at the University of Illinois in 1941 and his M.A. in 1946. After graduation, Armsey worked in the Public Information Office of the University of Illinois Professional Colleges. After a year at this post, Armsey went on to serve five years as the Public Relations Director at the Illinois Institute of Technology. This experience prepared him to serve as assistant to the chancellor at NYU beginning in 1952. During his four years at NYU, Armsey would hold several positions. Besides being Assistant to the Chancellor, Armsey was also the head of Public Relations, and the Vice President and Director of the New York University Press. He was an administrator for the Challenge, a newspaper, and he also had ties to the Alumni Bulletin, Alumni News, and the NYU Daily Bulletin . Armsey was also involved in the community, a member of the Community Planning Board #2, helping to clean up the Washington Square area, while at the same time acquiring sites for buildings to expand the Washington Square campus. During Armsey's time at NYU, Henry T. Heald was Chancellor. Heald had been President of the Illinois Institute of Technology, and when he was appointed Chancellor of NYU, he brought Armsey to New York with him to be his assistant. After his tenure at NYU, Heald became president of the Ford Foundation, and Armsey left to work with him there.

Sources Hevesi, Dennis. "James Armsey Dies at 90, Oversaw College Grants", The New York Times, November 19, 2008