Thomas, Joab L.

Joab Langston Thomas was Chancellor of North Carolina State University (1976-1981), President of the University of Alabama (1981-1988), Professor at the University of Alabama (1961-1975), and Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Alabama (1974-1975). Thomas received his A.B., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in botany from Harvard University.

From the description of Joab L. Thomas speech and letter of commendation, 1981 [manuscript]. (North Carolina State University). WorldCat record id: 469142181

Joab Langston Thomas was born in Holt, Alabama, on February 14, 1933. He received his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in biology from Harvard University in 1955, 1957, and 1959, respectively. He was a teaching fellow from 1955 to 1959 and a cytotaxonomist at Harvard's Arnold Arboretum from 1959 until 1961. Thomas moved to the University of Alabama, where he was first an associate professor of biology from 1962 to 1966 and then a full professor from 1966 to 1975. He served as assistant dean for the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama from 1964 to 1965 and 1969, as well as the vice president for student affairs from 1974 to 1975. In 1976, Thomas was appointed Chancellor of North Carolina State University. He then returned to the University of Alabama in 1981, serving as President of the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa campus until 1988, during which time he was also a professor of biology. Following a year long sabbatical, Thomas was named the 15th President of Pennsylvania State University on July 23, 1990 and began his duties on September 1, 1990. During his time at Pennsylvania State University one of the largest building programs of new construction and renovations in the University's history took place, including (at University Park) the opening of the Research Park and the Pennsylvania State University Conference Center and Hotel, construction of the Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, the Palmer Museum of Art, the Classroom/Office Building, the Mateer Building, groundbreaking for the Bryce Jordan Center and authorization of the new Paterno Library. New buildings at other Pennsylvania State University locations included libraries for five campuses. Under his leadership, Pennsylvania State University also accepted membership in the Big 10 athletic conference and became the twelfth member of the CIC, the Committee on Institutional Cooperation. Thomas worked to create a better balance between research and teaching at the university. Academic quality was Thomas's highest priority for Penn State. He established a Commission for Undergraduate Education in 1991 to direct the enhancement of undergraduate teaching in Penn State's research university environment. He approved partnerships with AT&T, Pepsi, and Barnes & Noble. He retired as president in August, 1995. Thomas served on many committees, such as the boards of the State College Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania Economic Development Partnership, Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Development Authority of West Alabama, Alabama Power Co., and Blount Inc. He directed the International Service for National Agricultural Research based in The Hague, Netherlands, and was named the Tuscaloosa Citizen of the Year in 1987. Thomas was a member of many groups, such as the American Institute of Biological Sciences, Botanical Society of America, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, International Association of Plant Taxonomists, Alabama Academy of Sciences, and North Carolina Academy of Sciences.

From the description of Joab Thomas papers, 1984-1995. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 468828140