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MUM50 - Regional Campus Pioneer Leader: Earl V. Thesken

This is the fifth in a series of historical vignettes tracing the work of the community and Miami University that led to the opening of Miami University Middletown in September 1966.

This is the fifth in a series of historical vignettes tracing the work of the community and Miami University that led to the opening of Miami University Middletown in September 1966.

This graphic element represents Miami University Middletown being Ohio's first permanent branch campus with classes opening on September 1, 1966.

When Miami President Phillip Shriver awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to Earl Thesken in 1973, he saluted Thesken's work related to regional campuses: "In development of regional campuses, Miami became a pioneer; Dean Thesken was the scout, trapper and settler."

A native of College Hill near Cincinnati, Thesken received his bachelor's from Miami in 1930, and his master's in 1943. After a time as teacher and principal at North College Hill High School, he returned to Miami as assistant registrar in 1947, and remained on Miami's staff until his retirement in 1972.

As Miami grew in Oxford and reached out to the surrounding region, Thesken's role grew as well, ultimately leading to his appointment as Dean of Educational Services. As Dean he had responsibility for summer school, continuing education, conferences and conventions, both the Registrar and Admission offices, and the academic centers and ultimately the regional campuses of Miami.

While overseeing Miami's five academic centers, Thesken was instrumental in the planning and organization that led to the dedication of Miami Middletown in 1966 and Miami Hamilton in 1968. He was also Miami's lead administrator in its joint venture with Ohio State University in Dayton which became Wright State University in 1967.

In 1966, Thesken was interviewed by The Middletown Journal about the origins of the campus and the path that led to its opening. Recalling the hard work and strong support of many individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses in the community, he stated that the cooperative spirit that made the campus possible "has forged a bond between Middletown and Miami University that will become stronger each year."

"We should never forget that the creation of a Miami Campus in Middletown was initiated by the community and made possible by community spirit." - Earl V. Thesken

Photo 1: Thesken and others registering first students for MUM. Standing L to R: Logan Johnson, C. Eugene Bennett, Earl Thesken, James Walters (dir of admission). Seated: students Robert Cordray and Judy Cook Sisson. Photo 2: Thesken and colleagues reviewing plans for joint Miami/Ohio State Dayton Campus. Photo 3: Thesken and the Miami Middletown Science & Technology building that was named in his honor.

Left: Thesken and others registering first students for MUM. Standing L to R: Logan Johnson, C. Eugene Bennett, Earl Thesken, James Walters (dir of admission). Seated: students Robert Cordray and Judy Cook Sisson.

Middle: Thesken and colleagues reviewing plans for joint Miami/Ohio State Dayton Campus.

Right: Thesken and the Miami Middletown Science & Technology building that was named in his honor.

Photo Credits: Images provide by the Miami University Archives (The Miami Alumnus magazine),the Miami Middletown archival collection (Middletown Journal) and the Miami Middletown PR & Marketing files.

To read other stories in this series, visit http://bit.ly/1cQM9Gt.