Drew University

Drew University is a small, private university located in Madison, New Jersey.

History

In 1867, Daniel Drew (1797-1879), a financier and railroad tycoon, endowed his antebellum estate in Madison for the purpose of establishing the Drew Theological Seminary. To this day, the Theological Seminary continues to graduate candidates for service in the ministry, however, the institution grew to include a liberal arts curriculum.

Related Topics:
1867 - Daniel Drew - 1797 - 1879 - Financier - Railroad - Tycoon - Antebellum - Drew Theological Seminary - Liberal arts

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The College admitted its first class of 12 students in 1928, after the trustees of the Drew Theological Seminary voted to accept a gift of $1.5 million from Arthur and Leonard Baldwin to build and endow a College, and to change the name of the institution to Drew University. In 1955, a Graduate School became the third of the university's degree granting entities.

Related Topics:
1928 - Arthur - Leonard Baldwin - 1955

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From its beginnings, the College has honored its founders' wish that it be ecumenical in its choice of faculty and students. The Baldwins also asked that the new institution be named Brothers College in recognition of their extra ordinary relationship. The name was later changed to the College of Liberal Arts, but its major academic building still bears the College's original name.

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In its early years, Drew provided educational opportunities for women, through enrollment in religious classes. However, for a brief time, Drew became an all-male institution, during the 1930's until 1942.

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During the Second World War, the draft threatened to take too many of Drew's students and the college of liberal arts responded by enrolling both women and US Navy recruits, through a V-12 program. At this time, Drew became coeducational.

Related Topics:
Second World War - US Navy - V-12 - Coeducational

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During the 1970's, the College also established, with generous assistance from the Mellon Foundation, a now widely imitated freshman seminar program. It allows first-year students to participate, with faculty who also serve as their academic advisers, in intensive study of a topic of mutual interest.

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Interdisciplinary study became a focus of the curriculum as well, with the creation of majors in behavioral studies, and Russian studies, and minors in such fields as American studies, arts administration, business management, and writing.

Related Topics:
Behavioral studies - Russian studies - American studies - Arts administration - Business management - Writing

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Thomas H. Kean (b. 1935), former Governor of New Jersey (1982-1990) and Co-Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, was Drew's most recently president, serving the capacity for 15 years before he stepped down in May 2005. Robert Weisbuch, former President of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, became Drew's 11th president in July 2005.

Related Topics:
Thomas H. Kean - 1935 - Governor of New Jersey - 1982 - 1990 - National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

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During his tenure as president, Kean has succeeded in adding new faculty in African, Asian, Russian, and Islamic studies, significantly increased opportunities for students to study abroad, increased applications from prospective students, nearly tripled the school's endowment, and committed more than $60 million to construction of new buildings and renovation of older buildings—principally student residence halls.

Related Topics:
African - Asian - Russian - Islamic studies

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Drew University is home to the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, and the Methodist Archives.

Related Topics:
Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey - Methodist Archives

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