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Stephen Joel Trachtenberg
President Trachtenberg at his final GWU Commencement.
15th President of the George Washington University
In office
1988–2007
Preceded byLloyd Hartman Elliott
Succeeded bySteven Knapp
3rd President of the University of Hartford
In office
1977–1988
Preceded byArchibald M. Woodruff
Succeeded byHumphrey Tonkin
Personal details
Born (1937-12-14) December 14, 1937 (age 86)
Brooklyn New York, New York, United States
SpouseFrancine Trachtenberg
Alma materColumbia University
Yale University
Harvard University
ProfessionEducator

Stephen Joel Trachtenberg (born December 14, 1937) was the 15th President of the George Washington University, serving from 1988 to 2007. On August 1, 2007, he retired from the presidency and became GW's President Emeritus and University Professor of Public Service at the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.

Background

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Trachtenberg is a native of Brooklyn, New York who graduated from James Madison High School in 1955.[1] He graduated from Columbia University in 1959,[2][3] and earned a J.D. from Yale in 1962 and a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1966.

At the beginning of his career, he served as the special assistant to the U.S. Education Commissioner for the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. He began his career in higher education at Boston University and later became president at the University of Hartford. From there he went to The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.[4]

He is the author of numerous books including "Presidencies Derailed", The Art of Hiring in America's Colleges & Universities, Thinking Out Loud, Reflections on Higher Education, Speaking His Mind, and Big Man on Campus as well as a foreword to Commercial Providence. He is co-author of "The Art of Hiring in America's Colleges & Universities" and "Letters to the Next President."[4]

He has received 22 honorary degrees in recognition of his contributions to higher education. These include an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Columbia University in 2007, a Doctor of Public Service degree from The George Washington University in 2008, an honorary Doctor of Public Administration degree from South Korea's Kyonggi University, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Hanyang University in South Korea, and an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the University of Hartford in 1989.[4]

George Washington University

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Trachtenberg started a full scholarship program for DC public school students, increased the national profile of the university, and has fostered the observance of school traditions such as George Washington's birthday celebration.

During Trachtenberg's tenure as president the university created five new schools: Public Health and Health Services, Public Policy and Public Administration, College of Professional Studies, Graduate School of Political Management, and Media and Public Affairs; initiated the University Honors Program; upgraded GW's library system, which now contains more than two million books and is a member of the prestigious Association of Research Libraries; elevated GW's NCAA Division One athletic program, including record-setting years for men's and women's basketball teams; strengthened university relations with District of Columbia civic leadership; established Northern Virginia and Mount Vernon campuses; upgraded and developed University academic, residential, and recreational facilities;[5] and raised tuition prices.[6][7]

The university Board of Trustees renamed the public policy school for Trachtenberg, calling it the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, similar to when the university renamed the Elliott School of International Affairs for Lloyd Elliott, the outgoing president. Trachtenberg holds an endowed chair of public service in the newly named Trachtenberg School. In the Spring of 2007, after announcing his retirement, President Trachtenberg announced himself as that year's commencement keynote speaker, a move met by widespread student outcry and petitioning. Trachtenberg withdrew from the keynote position citing the Virginia Tech massacre without further elaboration.[8]

When President Trachtenberg took office in 1988, tuition at GWU was $9,570, significantly below the national median of $11,330 for all four-year colleges.[9][10] When he left office in 2007, tuition was $37,790, among the highest in the nation and significantly above the national median of $30,226. Financial aid kept pace with tuition.[10][11]

Trachtenberg was recognized throughout his career at GW for his commitment to education. By Resolution of the Mayor and the Council of the District of Columbia, Dec. 4, 2006, was declared "Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Day," recognizing his 19 years of leadership at GW and in the city. Similarly, by Resolution of the Council of the District of Columbia, January 22, 1998, was declared "Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Day" in honor of President Trachtenberg's commitments to minority students, scholarship programs, public school partnerships and community service.[12]

In the Chronicle of Higher Education survey of college presidents' salaries for 2007–08, then-President Stephen Trachtenberg topped the nation with a compensation of $3.7 million.[13]

Rimon Law

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Trachtenberg is currently a partner at the international law firm Rimon Law P.C.[14] He joined the firm on December 1, 2014, and is based at the Washington D.C. office. He heads the firm's University Practice group.[15]

Other

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U.S. President George W. Bush appointed Trachtenberg to serve in the Honorary Delegation to accompany him to Jerusalem for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel in May 2008.[16][17]

Trachtenberg is a Fellow of the American Bar Association, the American Academy of the Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Public Administration. He also chaired the Rhodes Scholarships Selection Committee for Maryland and the District of Columbia.[4]

Trachtenberg has served as chairman of the Board of the DC Chamber of Commerce and also served on the transition team for the Mayor of the District of Columbia.[4]

After retiring from George Washington University, Trachtenberg joined the retained executive search firm Korn Ferry as Chairman of the Education Specialty Practice.[18]

An inscription on the reverse side of a bust of George Washington on the North lawn of the House of the Temple,[19] a Masonic temple in Washington, D.C., cites Trachtenberg as a 33° Freemason of the Scottish Rite. Trachtenberg contributed a foreword to the book by William L. Fox, Lodge of The Double-Headed Eagle: Two Centuries of Scottish Rite Freemasonry In America's Southern Jurisdiction (1997).[20] Trachtenberg's status as a Mason is also confirmed in a history of GWU's business school, and the role that local Masons played in its founding.

Trachtenberg has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Bankiter Foundation, the Ditchley Foundation, the National Board of Trade, the Federal City Council, the Locite Corporation, MNC, Riggs Bank, the CNO Executive Panel, and The White House Fellows Selection Panel. He was awarded the Open Forum Distinguished Public Service Award by the Secretary of State and received the Department of the Treasury Medal of Merit.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Named a Distinguished Alumnus of James Madison High School, Brooklyn, N.Y." GWU. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Take Five with Stephen Joel Trachtenberg '59". Columbia College Today. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  3. ^ "Reunion 2019 Remarks to the Class of 1959 by Stephen J. Trachtenberg '59". Columbia College Alumni Association. 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "National Defense University Board of Visitors" (PDF). Ndu.edu. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
  5. ^ "Trachtenberg To Become President Emeritus And University Professor In 2007". George Washington University. 2006-04-05. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  6. ^ "GWU Raises Tuition to More Than $39,000". The Washington Post. February 10, 2007.
  7. ^ [1] Archived December 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Calefati, Jessica (2007-04-19). "Trachtenberg steps down as keynote speaker". The GW Hatchet. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  9. ^ Associated, The (1988-08-07). "7% Rise Reported in College Tuition for 1988-89". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  10. ^ a b "Hurricane Steve Moves On". Columbia College Today. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  11. ^ "Fast Facts". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  12. ^ "Stephen Joel Trachtenberg". George Washington University. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  13. ^ De Vise, Daniel (November 2, 2009). "Ex-president of GWU lead in pay survey". Washington Post. p. B1.
  14. ^ S. "Stephen Joel Trachtenberg | Rimon PC". Rimonlaw.com. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
  15. ^ "George Washington University President Emeritus Stephen Trachtenberg Joins Rimon's DC office as Partner | Rimon PC". Rimonlaw.com. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
  16. ^ "Bush Visit May Boost Olmert". The New York Sun. 2008-05-13. Archived from the original on 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  17. ^ "Statement by the Press Secretary". Georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
  18. ^ "Our Consultants" (PDF). Kornferry.com. Retrieved 2015-07-22.
  19. ^ [2] Archived May 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ William L. Fox, Lodge of The Double-Headed Eagle: Two Centuries of Scottish Rite Freemasonry In America's Southern Jurisdiction (University of Arkansas Press, 1997). ISBN 978-1557284778.
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Academic offices
Preceded by 15th President of the George Washington University
1988-2007 		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by
Archibald M. Woodruff
 3rd President of the University of Hartford
1977-1988 		Succeeded by
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