Town and Gown marks
60th Anniversary of McCann Presidency

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Defiance College and the City of Defiance are sponsoring the next Town and Gown series presentation on Thursday, April 19, titled “The Eisenhower and McCann Years; A Defiance College Retrospective.” The presentation is in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Kevin McCann’s first year as president of Defiance College. A 6:30 p.m. reception will be held in the Women’s Commission Art Gallery followed by the 7:30 p.m. lecture and visual presentation in Schomburg Auditorium on the DC campus.

Professor emeritus Dr. Jan Younger and associate professor of history Dr. Don Buerk, will be presenting. Materials for both Younger and Buerk’s presentations were gathered and greatly enhanced with the assistance of DC’s associate librarian Barbara Sedlock.

Dr. Younger will discuss McCann’s history prior to coming to Defiance, how he prepared for his new role as a college president, and his relationship with President Dwight Eisenhower. Having worked with the future leader at Columbia University in 1946, McCann’s future became intertwined with Eisenhower. He served in Paris with Eisenhower at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe after World War II and again when Eisenhower became President. It was Eisenhower that encouraged McCann to apply and accept the position as president of Defiance College.

Dr. Buerk will show a visual presentation from McCann’s years as DC president detailing the growth of the college and how it has changed since.

The reception and event are free and open to the public.

Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.

April 10,2012