Leonard Haas (February 17, 1915 – March 14, 1998) was an American educator and president and chancellor of the

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...

. He served as the university's president from 1959 to 1971 and as the chancellor from 1973 to 1980. Haas served several years on the Eau Claire City Council. Interim chancellor Marjorie Smelstor said:

Leonard Haas' stature in the higher education community cannot be overstated. On the national level he played a significant role in the development of the American Association of State Colleges, both as a founder and as a member of several key committees. On the state level his vision and leadership helped shape the UW System, as we know it today. And of course at UW-Eau Claire his legacy is enormous. In particular we remember his commitment to internationalizing the campus, which began when he was chancellor and continued throughout his years as emeritus chancellor."Chancellor Emeritus Leonard Haas Dies March 14 in Eau Claire"
. UW-Eau Claire News Bureau, March 16, 1998

Haas came from the small railroad town of

Altoona, Wisconsin Altoona is a city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,292 at the 2020 census with an estimated population in 2021 of 8,817. The city is a railroad terminal on the Union Pacific Railroad. History The settlement o ...

, and he graduated from

Altoona High School Altoona High School is a public high school located in Altoona, Wisconsin. It serves students in grades 9 through 12 and is the only high school in the Altoona School District. History Although elementary education had been provided for Altoona r ...

in 1932.USGenWeb Archives
March 30, 2000. Retrieved 2013-03-20. He received his undergraduate degree from UW-Eau Claire in 1935, his master's degree from

University of Wisconsin–Madison The University of Wisconsin–Madison (University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, UW, UW–Madison, or simply Madison) is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded when Wisconsin achieved statehood in 1848, UW–Madison ...

, and his Ph.D. from the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. ...

. He did additional graduate work at

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 the

University of Southern California , mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it" , religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist , established = , accreditation = WSCUC , type = Private research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $8.1 ...

. In 1968, Haas was awarded the

LL.D. Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation refers to the early ...

from St. Olaf College.

References

Columbia University alumni University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni University of Minnesota alumni Presidents of the University of Wisconsin System University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire alumni People from Eau Claire, Wisconsin 1915 births 1998 deaths 20th-century American academics {{US-academic-administrator-1910s-stub