Dr. Benjamin Mance Ladner (born October 30, 1941, Mobile, Alabama) is an academic expert in the fields of philosophy and religion. He was president of of the National Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Sciences from 1980-1994 and American University from 1994-2005.
His areas of professional interest and research are international relations and the role of higher education; education administration; religion and contemporary culture; and NCAA collegiate athletics.
He was previously married to Carolyn Cooper, with whom he had two sons, David and Mark, and later remarried to Nancy Bullard.
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Education
The son of Willie E. and Bonnie Ladner, Ladner attended Murphy High School in Mobile followed by undergraduate study at Baylor University. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in 1963, Ladner went on to earn a Bachelor of Divinity from Southern Seminary in 1966 and, after completing his dissertation "Elizabeth Sewell: Poetic Method As An Instrument of Thinking and Knowing", his Doctor of Philosophy from Duke University in 1970.
During his professional career, Ladner has earned honorary doctorates from Elizabethtown College, Sookmyung Women’s University(South Korea) and Tashkent State Economic University (Uzbekistan).
Career
Ladner began his career in academia as a professor of philosophy and religion at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and taught at the University for more than a decade. While serving at UNC-Greensboro, Ladner won a Teaching Excellence Award and was nominated to the National Faculty for the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences in 1980, an association of university professors founded by Phi Beta Kappa, and served as its president for thirteen years.
In 1994, Ladner became president of American University. By the time of his departure in 2005, the school had become an international leader in global education and Ladner’s administration had engineered historic records in every area throughout the university, including academic quality, national educational rankings, athletic championships, fundraising, endowment growth, enrollment numbers and quality, campus renovation, diversity of students and faculty, and alumni support.[1]
Bylined Articles
Ladner has authored the following articles:
- The Sanford Saga - Enough [5] The State, July 2, 2009.
- Intellectual bridge over troubled political water[6] Times of Higher Education, July 28, 2000.
- No reason to be cynical of ‘celebrity'[7] Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 16, 2008.
- Why do Ideas Illuminate? [8] Journal of the American Academy of Religion 1974 XLII(4):739-745.
Speeches
- Speech on "Solidarity" at the UN Conference on Human Settlement in Istanbul, Turkey, June 3-14, 1996 [9].
- Speech on the "The Pathology of Excellence" at Baylor University's Honors Program fifth annual Harry and Anna Jeanes Academic Honors Convocation in Waco, Texas, April 22, 1997 [10].
- Opening Address at the 20th Congress of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences in Washington, DC, August 9, 2000 [11].
- Opening Address at HSBC Bank USAs 4th annual Philanthropy Forum in New York, New York, October 10, 2001 [12].
American University
Ladner was appointed President of, and professor of philosophy and religion at, American University in 1994. His appointment is credited with bringing stability to the University after a period of turmoil and rapid turnover of presidents.[2] During his tenure, the University saw financial and academic growth, along with recognition as an international university, with several campuses and partnering universities around the world. The main thrust of Ladner's changes at AU were put into a "15 point plan" in 2001, which was approved by the board.[3]
While in post, Ladner chaired the Board of Trustees of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area.
In 2003, Ladner fired Susan Clampitt as the head of university-owned WAMU, due to donor and staff outrage[4] at fiscal mismanagement of the NPR affiliate.[5] Clampitt later sued both Ladner and the University,[6] claiming that Ladner had approved all of her financial decisions, which depleted a $4 million endowment for the station.
Work Abroad
In 2001, Ladner negotiated with the Chinese government for the release of Gao Zhan,[7] after she was held while being charged as a spy for the United States. Later, it was discovered that Zhan was actually a spy for the People's Republic of China, and she was charged with tax fraud and espionage by the United States but charges were dismissed and she was placed in protective custody after she participated in a CIA operation.[8]
Under Ladner's leadership, American University expanded its reach aboard by forming campuses in Nigeria and UAE. Both endeavors provide management and academic advice to help staff and grow the institutions.
The Nigerian university, ABTI-American University (AAUN), attracts students from all over Africa and around the world seeking an American style education. Unlike most universities in the country, AAUN offers a four-year undergraduate degree program divided among two years of general study followed by two of concentrated study in a major. This differs from most Nigerian universities which follow the British model in which students only take classes in their major.[9]
"We envision that ABTI-American University (AAUN) will become a model for American-style education in one of the African continent's most important countries," American University President Benjamin Ladner said.[10]
In the UAE, American University established the American University of Sharjah (AUS), which his Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah and Founder and President of AUS, commended for its successful growth.
“His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah congratulated the faculty, staff and management for the university’s rapid growth and for the academic reputation AUS has earned in the region,” AUS Chancellor Dr. Winfred Thompson said.[11]
Removal from presidency of American University
Ladner came under increasing criticism for his high salary, lavish lifestyle, and his frequent travels to visit partnering universities throughout the world.
The website BenLadner.com was created by students at the University in 2002 to highlight these criticisms, specifically Ladner's salary. In September 2004, Ladner filed a complaint with ICANN, alleging that the website's prominent use of his name caused confusion for visitors, causing them to believe it to be his own personal website.[12] ICANN ruled against Ladner[13], refusing to remove the domain name because Ladner's name had no commercial value.[14]
In August 2005, The Washington Post reported on the opening of an investigation by the American University Board of Trustees into Dr Ladner's expenses. An anonymous letter to the board, later revealed to be from Ladner's fired driver Reginald Green,[15][16] alleged that Ladner had improperly used University funds for personal expenses. Ladner was placed on administrative leave by the Board pending the outcome of the investigation. On August 25, he was suspended from his post. On October 10, 2005, The Board of Trustees of American University announced that he would not return to American University as its president. The Board upheld the accusations of excessive use of university money for private spending. However some board members still believe that Dr. Ladner was wrongly accused. While Dr. Ladner was never criminally accused of anything, the federal investigation is ongoing.
Ladner was given a $3.75 million severance package,[17] causing two trustees to resign.[18]
Former and current trustees, as well as current faculty and administrators, were called to testify at a March 2006 hearing by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee investigating fraud at nonprofit organizations.[13]
References
- ^ Benjamin Ladner LinkedIn Profile [1]
- ^ "Dissecting Ladner's Legacy at the Helm of AU", Washington Post, P.A18, 9 October 2005
- ^ "Faculty named to governance task force", American Weekly, Sally Acharya and Kenny Lucas, February 29, 2001
- ^ "Crisis seen in WAMU spending", Current, Dan Odenwald, Oct. 20, 2003
- ^ "American U. Ousts WAMU Director Susan Clampitt", Jennifer Frey, Washington Post, P.C01, 31 October 2003
- ^ "WAMU official contests her firing", Washington Times, 17 August 2004
- ^ [http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/east/07/26/china.scholar/index.html " 'Spy scholar' says she can breathe free ", CNN.com, July 27, 2001]
- ^ "Double Cross?", Susan Jakes, Time Magazine, December 1, 2003
- ^ "American University assists Nigeria in establishing U.S.—style University," Phaedra Brotherton, BNet, December 2, 2004 [2]
- ^ "Nigeria gets first American-style varsity in sub-Sahara Africa," Segun Adeyemi, The Daily Sun, November 9, 2004 [3]
- ^ "Sultan congratulates AUS for growth, reputation," American University of Sharjah news, November 27, 2004 [4]
- ^ Washington Post, "AU President Challenges Web Site That Bears His Name", Amy Argetsinger, September 12, 2004, P.C01
- ^ Washington Post, "AU President Loses Web Site Challenge", Karlyn Barker, October 21, 2004, p.B04
- ^ Benjamin Ladner v. Ben Wetmore, National Arbitration Forum, October 13, 2004
- ^ "Whistle-Blower Who Brought Down Ladner at American U. Is Unmasked", Chronicle of Higher Education, May 1, 2006
- ^ "Meet the Whistle-Blower", Examiner.com, 2005
- ^ "Ladner's $3.75 Million Deal Severs Ties to American U.", Washington Post, October 25, 2005
- ^ Washington Post, "AU: President Ousted, Two Board Members Resign", October 14, 2005
External links
- Hundreds Rally to Protest Ladner - The Eagle, 29 September 2005
- AU President's Expenses Examined - Washington Post, 3 August 2005
- Ben Ladner's Years of Living Lavishly - Washingtonian.com, 01 April 2006
- Deconstructing a Man of Contrasts - WashingtonPost.com, 17 October 2005
| Preceded by Joseph Duffey |
President, American University 1994-2005 |
Succeeded by Cornelius M. Kerwin |
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