Jean Mayer
President, 1976 - 1992
“He made enemies, he made friends, he charmed many and infuriated others; but his presidency was never dull.”
– Sol Gittleman “The Visionary Presidents on the Hill” For Tufts Now, July 16, 2015
Initially the Trustees third choice for president, Jean Mayer arrived on the hill with an ambitious vision for Tufts. Mayer’s inauguration speech emphasized the importance of an interdisciplinary yet practical education for Tufts students. He envisioned the marriage of teaching and research and the expansion of the Fletcher School’s global influence, among other topics. The weather on the day of his inauguration drove the celebration inside the Cousens Gymnasium, but Mayer’s music choices were energetic, modern, and dramatic, much like his presidency. Pieces by John Phillips Sousa, Darius Milhaud, Gustav Holst, and Aaron Copland were featured.
Mayer was the first president to wear the Tufts seal medallion and the first to be interviewed by students on the radio on the day of his inauguration. Throughout the ceremony, students provided insight and commentary via WMFO. One student expressed relief that “being a nutritionist doesn‘t bar you from having eclairs at your inauguration reception” in her review of the ceremony for the Observer.
Mayer’s presidency was truly transformational and launched Tufts into a new era. He increased Tufts’ fundraising efforts and his relationships in Washington led to millions of dollars in research grants. He established the Veterinary School, the only such school in the New England, as well as the first graduate school of nutrition, the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. He also established the Tufts European Center in Talloires, France. Mayer’s vision helped transform Tufts “from a small liberal arts college into a research university of international reputation” according to the New York Times.
