2009 Honorary Degree
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His students echo sentiments of his commitment and belief in them when they recall that "he imagined our potential even before we knew it ourselves."
A 1955 graduate of Purdue with a bachelor's degree in English, Wise completed his master's in English from Columbia University. He joined the faculty in the English department at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., in 1966. Wise has been immersed in education for nearly 50 years and observed a pattern of educational attainment that was not changing - the face of academia was still too homogeneous. Although multicultural citizens made up more than 40 percent of the nation's population, this underrepresented group contributed only 16 percent of the nation's school and college teachers.
Stepping down from his post as dean of faculty in 1990, Wise founded the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT) at Phillips Academy. IRT supports students - juniors, seniors and college graduates - from diverse backgrounds who desire to attain advanced degrees in the humanities, social sciences, education or mathematics. IRT alumni typically pursue careers in teaching, counseling and administration at schools, colleges and universities throughout the nation. The IRT program is recognized as a model for increasing diversity in graduate programs and for professionals in education dedicated to social change. Each year, the program admits 100 students selected from the more than 300 applicants. There are 1,200 IRT alumni; 90 percent have earned graduate degrees, and 93 percent are employed in education or are pursuing advanced degrees five years after completing the program.
The IRT has raised more than $13 million to support the endowment and operating costs. Since its founding, Wise has built a consortium of 42 universities to recruit, enroll and fund IRT students. In enrollments, Purdue ranks second in that competitive group (71 students).
A native of New Castle, Ind., he and his deceased wife, Sybil, together have three children — Jocelyn, Adam and Lydia.
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