16th President of the Pennsylvania State University
In office September 1, 1995 – November 9, 2011
Preceded by
Joab Thomas
Succeeded by
Rodney Erickson
17th Chancellor of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
In office October 31, 1991 – July 21, 1995
Preceded by
Martin Massengale
Succeeded by
James Moeser
Personal details
Born
Graham Basil Spanier
(1948-07-18) July 18, 1948 (age 75) Cape Town, Union of South Africa
Spouse
Sandra Spanier
Children
2
Alma mater
Iowa State University and Northwestern University
Graham Basil Spanier (born July 18, 1948) is a South African-born American sociologist and university administrator who became the 16th president of Pennsylvania State University on September 1, 1995. On November 9, 2011, in the wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, Spanier and longtime football coach Joe Paterno were “removed from their positions” by the Penn State board of trustees.[1]
Spanier is currently president emeritus and university professor emeritus. He previously held appointments as professor of human development and family studies; sociology, demography, and family and community medicine. He had a one-year post-presidential sabbatical leave following his resignation as president of Penn State in November 2011.
After lengthy criminal proceedings, Spanier was convicted of one misdemeanor charge of child endangerment in March 2017 for his role in the scandal. The conviction was overturned by a federal district judge in April 2019, but reinstated by an appeals court in December 2020.[2][3] He served a two-month prison sentence throughout the summer of 2021.[4]
Spanier has written a book recounting the Penn State scandal from his perspective, the criminal proceedings which followed and his resulting incarceration. “In the Lions’ Den: The Penn State Scandal and a Rush to Judgment” was released by Gryphon Eagle Press in September 2022.[5]
Spanier is currently a consultant in national and international security, intelligence and risk management.[5]
^"Paterno, Spanier Out Immediately at Penn State". ABC News. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
^"Judge throws out child endangerment conviction for former Penn State president". UPI. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
^"Third Circuit Reinstates Graham Spanier's Conviction". Lawandcrime.com. December 1, 2020.
^"Former Penn State President Will Serve 2 Months in Jail in Child Abuse Scandal". The New York Times. May 26, 2021.
^ ab"Spanier in the Lion's Den". Spanier in the Lions' Den. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
Graham Basil Spanier (born July 18, 1948) is a South African-born American sociologist and university administrator who became the 16th president of Pennsylvania...
known for the Alexander-Spanier cohomology theory GrahamSpanier (born 1948), former president of Penn State University Muggsy Spanier (1906–1967), American...
2011-11-09 at the Wayback Machine Spanier: Curley, Schultz 'Operate at the Highest Levels of Honesty' Joe Paterno, GrahamSpanier removed, November 10, 2011...
president GrahamSpanier volunteered to resign, wasn't fired, report says. The Patriot-News, November 17, 2011. "Joe Paterno, GrahamSpanier removed"....
of the scandal, coach Joe Paterno was fired and school president Graham B. Spanier was forced to resign by the board of trustees. Sandusky, who maintained...
deeply critical of the administration of former university president GrahamSpanier, athletic director Tim Curley, late coach Joe Paterno and former university...
Bendapudi (current president) Joe Paterno Fred Lewis Pattee Jerry Sandusky GrahamSpanier Student life Army ROTC Air Force ROTC Penn State Dance Marathon (THON)...
president of Penn State on November 9, 2011, after previous president GrahamSpanier was forced to resign in the wake of the Penn State sex abuse scandal...
Bendapudi (current president) Joe Paterno Fred Lewis Pattee Jerry Sandusky GrahamSpanier Student life Army ROTC Air Force ROTC Penn State Dance Marathon (THON)...
on ex-Penn State President GrahamSpanier". The Associated Press. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2015. "GrahamSpanier". Penn State University Libraries...
to notify authorities. In the wake of the scandal, school president GrahamSpanier was forced to resign, and head football coach Joe Paterno was fired...
Bendapudi (current president) Joe Paterno Fred Lewis Pattee Jerry Sandusky GrahamSpanier Student life Army ROTC Air Force ROTC Penn State Dance Marathon (THON)...
conclusions. He is being sued for defamation by GrahamSpanier, the former president of Penn State. Spanier, along with two other former Penn State executives...
Bendapudi (current president) Joe Paterno Fred Lewis Pattee Jerry Sandusky GrahamSpanier Student life Army ROTC Air Force ROTC Penn State Dance Marathon (THON)...
Event Monitors’ at parties. Dado’s death led to Penn State President GrahamSpanier presenting a 30-component strategy to the Board of Trustees on a plan...
ceremony were Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, Penn State president GrahamSpanier, state Senator Jake Corman and Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley...
Bendapudi (current president) Joe Paterno Fred Lewis Pattee Jerry Sandusky GrahamSpanier Student life Army ROTC Air Force ROTC Penn State Dance Marathon (THON)...
Bendapudi (current president) Joe Paterno Fred Lewis Pattee Jerry Sandusky GrahamSpanier Student life Army ROTC Air Force ROTC Penn State Dance Marathon (THON)...
Bendapudi (current president) Joe Paterno Fred Lewis Pattee Jerry Sandusky GrahamSpanier Student life Army ROTC Air Force ROTC Penn State Dance Marathon (THON)...
informed of the crimes and disregarded the reports. School president GrahamSpanier, vice president Gary Schultz, and athletic director Tim Curley were...
Bendapudi (current president) Joe Paterno Fred Lewis Pattee Jerry Sandusky GrahamSpanier Student life Army ROTC Air Force ROTC Penn State Dance Marathon (THON)...
Bendapudi (current president) Joe Paterno Fred Lewis Pattee Jerry Sandusky GrahamSpanier Student life Army ROTC Air Force ROTC Penn State Dance Marathon (THON)...
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