John Kemeny

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

John Kemeny joined the faculty as a math professor in 1953, and as Dartmouth's 13th president, he went on to preside over a transformational era in institutional history.

GAMECHANGER

As president, Kemeny led Dartmouth through the sweeping social changes that took place on campus over the course of his 11-year tenure. He oversaw the transition to coeducation in 1972, the proactive efforts to recruit and retain minority students, and the revival of Dartmouth's founding commitment to provide education for Native Americans.

LEADING THE WAY

Equating computer literacy with reading literacy, Kemeny brought Dartmouth to the technological forefront as a pioneer in student access to computers. He is credited with co-inventing the BASIC programming language in 1964.

EXTRA CREDIT

Kemeny worked on the Manhattan Project while in college. In 1979 he chaired the presidential commission that investigated the Three Mile Island accident.

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