Michael O. Sawyer (1919–2002[1]) was an American university administrator and constitutional law professor who worked at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University for over 42 years.[2][3] He was known for his mentoring of thousands of students.
Michael O. Sawyer | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1919 |
| Died | (aged 83) |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University George Washington University |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | constitutional law |
| Institutions | Syracuse University |
| Thesis | Study of the activities of citizenship (A survey of two diverse communities). (1952) |
Early life and education
editSawyer earned his BS (1941), MS (1947), & PhD (1957) from Syracuse University. He also earned a JD from the George Washington University (1962). His 1952 doctoral thesis was titled "Study of the activities of citizenship (A survey of two diverse communities)".[4]
He was a Ford Foundation post-doctoral fellow, and was a scholar-in-residence for the United States Commission on Civil Rights.[3][5]
Career
editSawyer began his career as an instructor at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 1948 and was promoted to assistant professor (1952), associate professor (1957), and full professor in 1965. In 1970s, he began working with Syracuse chancellor Melvin Eggers in various administrative posts.[6]
Sawyer published many articles, conference papers, and several books on public law, American studies. He held visiting lectureships at the University of Colorado, University of Delaware, University of Georgia, University of North Carolina, University of Notre Dame, and University of Oregon.[3]
Awards and honors
editAt Syracuse, He received several university awards, including the Outstanding Professor of Syracuse University (1986), Syracuse's highest alumni – honor the George Arents Pioneer Medal (1986), and the St. Thomas More Award (1987).
When he retired in 1990, the Maxwell school established The Michael O. Sawyer Chair of Constitutional Law and Politics in his honor.[2] Some of the notable scholars to hold the chaired position are Stephen Macedo, Keith J. Bybee,[7] and Thomas M. Keck.[8] A student award was also named in his honor.[3]
The Maxwell school hosts the Sawyer Law and Politics Program (SLAPP).[5] It also hosts the Michael O. Sawyer Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Law and Politics.[9]
Death
editSawyer died at the age of 83 on December 24, 2002, in Liverpool, New York, due to complications from Alzheimer.[1][10]
References
edit- ^ a b "Obituary of Michael O. Sawyer: Falardeau Funeral Home". falardeaufh.com. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Campus Life: Syracuse; 42 Years of Warmth And Wit Wind Down". The New York Times. 29 April 1990. p. 43 (Section 1). Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d Morrow, Kevin (27 December 2002). "Michael O. Sawyer – esteemed Syracuse University faculty member and administrator for 42 years — dies at age 83". Syracuse University News. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ Sawyer, Michael O (1952). Study of the activities of citizenship (A survey of two diverse communities) (PhD). Syracuse University. OCLC 850008724. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Sawyer Law and Politics Program". Maxwell School of Syracuse University. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ Greene, John Robert (1 November 1998). Syracuse University: Volume V: The Eggers Years. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press. p. 72. ISBN 9780815605492. OCLC 1285849861. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ Dorgan, Lauren R.; Vascellaro, Jessica E. (November 21, 2001). "Popular Professor To Leave Harvard: Bybee to take Syracuse chair". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "Thomas M. Keck". Carnegie Corporation of New York. Carnegie Corporation of New York. 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "Teaching Post-Doc - Michael O. Sawyer Post-Doctoral Fellow in Law & Politics". www.higheredjobs.com. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "Deaths SAWYER, MICHAEL O." The New York Times. 23 March 2003. Retrieved 29 March 2022.