New York (State). Education Dept. Office of the Commissioner

Ewald B. Nyquist was born November 1, 1914 in Rockford, Illinois. He attended and graduated from Rockford public schools and entered the University of Chicago in 1931. While at Chicago, he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and pursued graduate study in psychology, without earning an advanced degree. In 1945, Nyquist became the Assistant Director of University Admissions at Columbia University in New York, rising to the position of director in 1948. Nyquist then moved on to the New York State Education Department in 1951, becoming the Assistant Commissioner for Higher Education. In 1955, he was named Associate Commissioner for Higher and Professional Education, and in 1957, he became Deputy Commissioner of Education. On May 2, 1969, Nyquist was named Acting Commissioner of Education, replacing James Allen, who had been appointed U.S. Commissioner of Education in February of that year. On November 21, Nyquist was officially named Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York by the State Board of Regents.

As Commissioner of Education, Nyquist focused attention on the reform of school operations and curriculum. Nyquist was an advocate of “open education,” an educational philosophy emphasizing individualized instruction and student-directed learning. In addition, Nyquist implemented Project Redesign, an effort to facilitate community involvement in examining and redesigning school operations within specific school districts. Nyquist’s tenure also saw increased focus on bilingual education, spurred by the 1972 Regents Position Paper on Bilingual Education. Also, under Nyquist’s tenure, the Education Department expanded its focus on higher education beyond public universities. The Regents External Degree Program allowed for undergraduate degrees, awarded by the Regents, to be given to people based on knowledge and skills gained outside of college. In addition, the Higher Education Opportunity Program funded programs to assist minority and disadvantaged students in attending non-public institutions of higher learning. In the field of cultural education, much of Nyquist’s tenure saw the planning and development of the Cultural Education Center in the South Mall of the Empire State Plaza, as well as planning for the establishment of the New York State Archives.

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