John T. Casteen III

John Thomas Casteen III^[2] (born December 11, 1943 in Portsmouth, Virginia^[3]) is an American educator. He served as Professor of English^[4] and President of the University of Virginia from 1990 through 2010.^[5]

Early life and career

John Casteen earned his B.A. (1965), M.A. (1966) and Ph.D. (1970) degrees in English from the University of Virginia.^[6] From 1968 to 1969, he wrote a column called "Soundings" for the student newspaper, The Cavalier Daily, in which he wrote about the administration of the University, conducting sympathetic interviews with deans and defending the policies of the administration.^[7]

He began his professional career teaching English at the University of California, Berkeley, and later at the University of Virginia. From 1975 to 1982, he served as Dean of Admissions at the University of Virginia, resigning^[8] to serve as Secretary of Education in the Cabinet of Virginia Governor Charles S. Robb from 1982 to 1985. From 1985 until 1990 he served as President of the University of Connecticut.^[9]

President of the University of Virginia

As president of the University, Casteen advocated increasing UVA's enrollment of women, minority, and economically disadvantaged students. In 2003, he directed the creation of AccessUVA, the University's full-need financial aid program.

He also presided over substantial growth, both financial and physical, at the University. In addition to assuming numerous roles on the grounds of the University, ranging from liaison to the alumni board of relations to faculty advisor to the St. Anthony Hall Literary Society, Casteen led two financial campaigns for the University's endowment, one with a goal of $1 billion and another (ongoing) with a $3 billion goal.^[10] During his tenure, major building projects on Grounds included Hereford College, Bryan Hall, the Robertson Hall expansion of Rouss Hall for the McIntire School of Commerce, the South Lawn Project, the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, the University Bookstore, the Aquatic and Fitness Center, and John Paul Jones Arena.

Casteen announced on June 12, 2009, that he would retire in 2010.^[10] His 20-year tenure is the second longest of any University of Virginia president, after Edwin Alderman.

Business interests

Since 1986, Casteen has held numerous positions as a director in business organizations, including his first for the Connecticut Bank and Trust Company and Wachovia Corporation.^[9] He is currently a director of Sage Publications, Jefferson Science Associates LLC and the Virginia University Research Partnership, and was elected a director of Altria on February 22, 2010.^[11]

Personal life

He is married to Betsy Foote Casteen, and they have five children.^[9]

References