Leo Warren Jenkins (May 28, 1913 – January 14, 1989) was the sixth president and chancellor of what is now
East Carolina University
East Carolina University (ECU) is a public university, public research university in Greenville, North Carolina. It is the fourth largest university in North Carolina.
Founded on March 8, 1907, as a Normal school, teacher training school, East ...
in
Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville is the county seat of and the most populous city in Pitt County, North Carolina, Pitt County, North Carolina, United States; the principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina metropolitan area, Greenville metropolitan area; and th ...
, United States.
He was born in the
Succasunna
Succasunna is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Roxbury Township, in Morris County, New Jersey, United States, serving as its downtown and population center, having a population of 9,152 people as of ...
section of
Roxbury, New Jersey
Roxbury is a Township (New Jersey), township in Morris County, New Jersey, Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 23,324, reflecting a decline of 559 (−2.3%) from the 23,88 ...
and raised in
. He attended
Rutgers University
Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's ...
, majoring in
political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...
a masters from
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
and a doctorate from
New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin.
In 1832, the ...
. He enlisted in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
as a
marine
Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean.
Marine or marines may refer to:
Ocean
* Maritime (disambiguation)
* Marine art
* Marine biology
* Marine debris
* Marine habitats
* Marine life
* Marine pollution
Military
* ...
, serving during the
battle of Guam. Jenkins joined the faculty of East Carolina Teachers College in 1947 and served as Dean of the school until his election to the presidency in 1960. Under his watch, East Carolina gained university status in 1967. When ECU became part of the
University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina is the multi-campus public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the NC School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referred to as the UNC Sy ...
System in 1972, Jenkins stayed on as chancellor, retiring in 1978. The Leo W. Jenkins Cancer Center at the
Brody School of Medicine was named for him.
Session 1989 House Joint Resolution 459 - A Joint Resolution Honoring The Life And Memory Of Dr. Leo Warren Jenkins, Former Chancellor Of East Carolina University
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the Bicameralism, bicameral legislature of the Government of North Carolina, State government of North Carolina. The legislature consists of two chambers: the North Carolina Senate, Senate and the North Ca ...
, March 6, 1989. Accessed June 12, 2020. "Whereas, Leo Warren Jenkins was born on May 28, 1913, in Succasunna, New Jersey and was raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey"
References
External links
East Carolina University Icons Gallery profile
Leo Warren Jenkins Papers (#360), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University
Leo W. Jenkins Oral History Interview (#OH0051), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University
Leo W. Jenkins Papers. UA90-06. University Archives, East Carolina University
1913 births
1989 deaths
United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni
New York University alumni
People from Elizabeth, New Jersey
People from Roxbury, New Jersey
Presidents of East Carolina University
Rutgers University alumni
United States Marines
20th-century American academics
{{US-academic-administrator-1910s-stub