Hunsaker, Herbert Cason, 1898-

Herbert Cason Hunsaker's involvement with adult education spanned over sixty years. His work led him to the Middle East and to China, as well as most of the United States. Hunsaker was active in many professional organizations and civic groups. In 1967, he was President of the Adult Education Association (AEA). He was also instrumental in the establishment of the China Tour Committee of the AEA, along with the International Associates. He made a great many speeches to a variety of adult educators, students, and to the general public.

His interests and concerns were centered around three themes: internationalism; school and community relations; and continuing education. These three interests intertwined throughout his life.

Hunsaker began his professional career as a college administrator at University of Newark (Rutgers University) in 1926, then worked his way up to Dean of Adult Education at Cleveland College. During his time at Cleveland Hunsaker worked for Unesco, along with serving in the army during World War II. Taking a leave of absence from Cleveland College, he returned to Teacher's College at Columbia University, where he had earned his M.A. in 1928, to work on a doctorate in education. It is not clear whether he earned the PhD, but in 1955 he returned to academe as Professor of Adult Education and Assistant Director, Division of Adult Education, Purdue University. This was his last academic position.

In 1962 Hunsaker took a leave of absence from Purdue University until 1964 when he retired. From 1962 to 1965 he was a United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Adult Education Advisor stationed in Turkey. From 1965 to 1969 he did the same in Afghanistan. In 1965, as an interim assignment, Dr Hunsaker was loaned by USAID to Unesco Fundamental and Literacy Education Division for two months to help plan a pilot project in Functional Literacy for Pakistan.

Hunsaker retired from USAID in 1969. He then worked for World Education as a Consultant and Field Representative in literacy planning education. This was an AID sponsored and financed project headquartered at Literacy House, Lucknow, India. While on this assignment Hunsaker traveled throughout the Middle East, the Philippines, and Thailand. He held this position until 1972 when he retired for a third time.

In 1972 Herbert and Marion Hunsaker returned to their home in West Lafayette, Indiana. Continuing to work as a part-time consultant for World Education and the International Council of Adult Education, the Hunsakers at once began another project which was a series of tours sponsored by the AEA China Tour Committee and by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE) of both the Middle East and China. The Hunsakers led a fourth, and possibly a fifth tour.

• 1898:: Born, White Salmon, Washington
• 1922:: A.B. Univ of Washington
• 1928:: M.A. Columbia
• 1937:: LL.B. Univ of Newark (Rutgers)
• 1926 - 39: : Asst to President, Registrar, Assoc Dean, and Prof of Adult Education, Univ of Newark.
• 1939 - 41: : Field representative AAAE
• 1941 - 55: : Dean Cleveland College (Western Reserve Univ)
• 1942:: Bureau of Special Operations, Office of War Information
• 1949:: U.S.delegate to International Conf on Adult Education (Denmark)
• 1949:: Member of UNESCO's Consultative Comm on Fundamental and Adult Education
• 1955:: PhD from Columbia University [?]
• 1955 - 62: : Professor of Adult Education and Asst Dir, Div of Adult Education, Purdue University
• 1960:: President of Adult Education Association
• 1961 - 69: : Near East-South Asia Division, USAID
• 1962 - 65: : Adult Education Advisor, USAID, Turkey
• 1962 - 64: : Leave of absence from Purdue University
• 1965 - 69: : Education Advisor, USAID, Afghanistan
• 1965:: Unesco, Functional Literacy for Pakistan
• 1969 - 72: : World Education Field Representative

From the guide to the Herbert C. Hunsaker Papers, 1920-1984, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)