Burns, Hubert W. (“Bert”) (1925-2008)
Date Updated
10-5-2019
Department
Philosophy
Academic Rank
Academic Vice President/Professor of Philosophy
Year Retired from SJSU
1983
Facebook or Website URL
San Jose State University Office of the President, Hobert W. Burns Records
Educational Background
Stanford University, 1957 ECLD.
Stanford University, 1951 MA
Stanford University, 1950 BS
Menlo College, 1944 AA
Teaching Experience
San Jose State University, 1984-1986
Sonoma State University, 1983-1984
Sonoma State University, 1983-1984
San Jose State University, 1966-1983
University of California at Los Angeles, Summer 1966
Hofstra University, 1963-1966
University of Southern California, Summer 1963
University of Hawaii, Summer 1962
Syracuse University, 1960-1963
Universidad de Santa Maria, Valparaiso, Chile, Spring 1960
Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile, Fall 1959
Rutgers University, 1957-1960
Stanford University, 1956-1957
Administrative and Professional Experience
Chair, Department of Cultural Foundations, Syracuse University, 1960‑63.
Dean, School of Education, Hofstra University, 1963‑66.
Academic Vice President, San Jose State University, 1966‑68; 1970‑83.
Acting President, San Jose State University, 1969‑70.
President ad interim, Sonoma State University, 1983‑84.
Advisory Positions. In addition to universities and professional associations invited advice has been offered to such organizations as the Agency for International Development, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, California State Board of Education, Conference Board of Associated Research Councils, Council of Higher Education in the American Republics, Government of Bolivia, Government of Dominican Republic, Government of Israel, Institute for International Education, Organization of American States, Peace Corps, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United States Department of State, and the United States Office of Education.
Selected Publications
Nine books and 99 articles published between 1949 and 1994. Two articles were published as an undergraduate, 18 as a graduate student, 11 as an assistant professor, 26 as an associate professor, and 42 as a professor. Two books were published as an assistant professor, 2 as an associate professor, and 5 as a professor.
Files
Personal Commentary
A wonderful high school experience at Lowell High School in San Francisco, coupled with less than wonderful experiences during WWII, led me to conclude I wanted to become a teacher. I've never regretted that conclusion and the life to which it led.
Working with faculty members, at whatever level and with rare exception, has been a pleasure for over four decades. The range of talents and abilities, interests and efforts, and personal and professional attitudes of faculty members is indescribably variable and, again with rare exception, positive and amazing. That is equally true of academic administrators who, for the most part but once more with exception permitted, were excellent in all but impossible jobs which offered inadequate fiscal and psychological remuneration. And all this is equally and especially true of many of the students whom I've had in class, and I'm proud some of them went on to great academic success.
It is not my style or inclination to make personal, familial remarks. But those who know my wife and children know they have put the essential meaning into my life.
Date Completed: 6/96
Adapted from: Biographies of Retired Faculty San Jose State University 1997: A Project of the Emeritus Faculty Association of San Jose State University. San Jose, CA: The University, 1997.