Bacow, Lawrence S.

Dates

• Existence: 1951

Biography

Abstract:

Lawrence Seldon Bacow (1951-) served as the twelfth president of Tufts University from 2001 to 2011. He is a distinguished lawyer and economist who specializes in environmental policy issues. Bacow was born on August 24, 1951 in Detroit, Michigan. He received a B.S. in Economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1972, a J.D. at Harvard Law School in 1976, as well as a M.P.P. and a Ph.D. at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government in 1978. Before his inauguration at Tufts University, Bacow served as Chancellor (1998-2001) and held the position of Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies (1997-2001) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Bacow’s presidency saw the completion of a number of major construction projects on all three Tufts campuses, including the vertical expansion project at the School of Dental Medicine and the construction of Sophia Gordon Hall. In 2003, Bacow initiated the President’s Marathon Challenge, which united members of the Tufts community to participate in and volunteer at the Boston Marathon.

Lawrence Seldon Bacow (1951-) served as the twelfth president of Tufts University from 2001 to 2011. He is a distinguished lawyer and economist who specializes in environmental policy issues.

Lawrence Bacow was born on August 24, 1951 in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1972. He completed a J.D at Harvard Law School in 1976 and finished his M.P.P. and Ph.D. at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government in 1978.

Bacow has held a variety of administrative posts in business, higher education, and government. Before his inauguration at Tufts University, Bacow served as Chancellor (1998-2001) and held the position of Lee and Geraldine Martin Professor of Environmental Studies (1997-2001) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has also served as Director of Tufts Medical Center, as Chair of the Council of Presidents of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of Boston Properties, Inc. In 2010, Barack Obama appointed him as a member of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Within his first year at Tufts, Bacow opposed graduate students' efforts to form a union to bargain over wages and benefits. He recorded two video addresses directed to the students to voice his disapproval of these efforts.

Bacow initiated the President’s Marathon Challenge in 2003, which unites members of the Tufts community to participate in the Boston Marathon in a variety of ways, including running and volunteering. He is an enthusiastic runner who has completed five marathons.

During Bacow’s presidency, a number of major construction and renovation projects took place on all three Tufts campuses. Some of the major projects include: the vertical expansion project at the School of Dental Medicine, the construction of Sophia Gordon Hall, the construction of the Agnes Varis Campus Center, the construction of the Perry and Marty Granoff Music Center, and the renovation of the School of Medicine’s Sackler Center.

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