WOU Repository

Gerald Leinwand was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1921 and attended New York University and Columbia University. Prior to coming to Oregon to serve as college President, Leinwand was Dean of Education at Baruch College in New York City. He authored more than 40 books, including The Pageant of World History, a textbook in use throughout the United States, in publication for 35 years. He oversaw the name of the institution from Oregon College of Education to Western Oregon State College (WOSC) in 1981, to promote it as more than simply an education college. Along with preserving the college as a teaching school, Leinwand also sought to create more programs which promoted other careers, such as social work, law enforcement, criminal justice, public administration, and healthcare. The constant fight for funding and enrollment was tiring for him. In 1982, after five years of being President, Leinwand retired from WOSC and returned to New York City. He died in New York on January 30, 2015. He is buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Ridgewood, NY.