Thomas A. Bartlett

For other Thomas Bartletts, see Thomas Bartlett (disambiguation).

Thomas A. Bartlett
8th Chancellor of the State University of New York
In office 1994–1996
Preceded by	D. Bruce Johnstone
Succeeded by	John W. Ryan
9th Chancellor of the Oregon University System
In office 1989–1994
Preceded by	William E. Davis
Succeeded by	Joseph Cox
2nd Chancellor of the University of Alabama System
In office 1982–1987
Preceded by	Joseph F. Volker
Succeeded by	Philip E. Austin
1st President of the Association of American Universities
In office 1977–1982
Succeeded by	Robert M. Rosenzweig
11th President of Colgate University
In office 1969–1977
Preceded by	Vincent MacDowell Barnett Jr.
Succeeded by	George D. Langdon, Jr.
4th President of American University in Cairo
In office 1963–1969
Preceded by	Raymond F. McLain
Succeeded by	Christopher Thoron
Personal details
Born	(1930-03-24) March 24, 1930 Salem, Oregon, United States
Spouse(s)	Mary (Molly) Louise Bixby (1954)
Education	Willamette University Stanford University (AB, 1951) [Oxford University] (MA) Stanford University (PhD, 1959)

Thomas Alva Bartlett (born August 20, 1930) is an American educator who is most notable for having served as President of several universities and university systems.

Bartlett was born in Salem, Oregon and was youngest of three sons of Cleave Bartlett, an auditor-bookkeeper and real estate broker, and the former Alma Hanson, a housewife. In 1947, he graduated from Salem High School. He attended Willamette University for two years, where he joined Beta Theta Pi fraternity, before transferring to Stanford University, where he was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. After graduating in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in Political Science, he attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, earning a master's degree. In 1959 he was awarded a Ph.D. degree from Stanford University. While still in graduate school, he was recruited to join the United States Permanent Mission to the United Nations to work on Arab-Israeli relations. From, there, he became the President of the American University in Cairo.

In the 1970s and 1980s, he assumed the Presidency of Colgate University and the Chancellorships of the University of Alabama System and the Oregon State System of Higher Education. He also served as President of the Association of American Universities. He was called out of a brief retirement to head the State University of New York System in 1994, but conflicts with George Pataki appointees on the University's Board of Trustees led to his resignation after just 17 months on the job.

After SUNY, he became Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the United States-Japan Foundation, leaving after seven years to re-assume the Presidency of the American University in Cairo on an interim basis.

The Thomas A. Bartlett Chair of English at Colgate University is named after him.

References

Academic offices
Preceded by Raymond F. McLain	President of the American University in Cairo 1963–1969	Succeeded by Christopher Thoron
Preceded by Vincent M. Barnett, Jr.	President of Colgate University 1969–1977	Succeeded by George D. Langdon, Jr.
Preceded by New office	President of the Association of American Universities 1977–1982	Succeeded by Robert M. Rosenzweig
Preceded by Joseph F. Volker	Chancellor of the University of Alabama System 1982–1987	Succeeded by Philip E. Austin
Preceded by William E. Davis	Chancellor of the Oregon University System 1989 – July, 1994	Succeeded by Joseph Cox
Preceded by Joseph C. Burke (acting)	Chancellor of the State University of New York December 1, 1994 – June 30, 1996	Succeeded by John W. Ryan
Preceded by John D. Gerhart	Interim President of the American University in Cairo 2002–2003	Succeeded by David D. Arnold
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by William D. Eberle	Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the United States-Japan Foundation 1994–2002	Succeeded by Thomas A. Johnson