Thomas Joseph Haas (born March 5, 1951) is an American academic who is a former president of

Grand Valley State University Grand Valley State University (GVSU, GV, or Grand Valley) is a public university in Allendale Charter Township, Michigan, Allendale, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1960 as Grand Valley State College. Its main campus is situated on ...

(GVSU) and a chemistry professor. He currently holds the title of President Emeritus. Prior to serving at GVSU, Haas was president of the

State University of New York at Cobleskill State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

from 2003 to 2006. In 2018, Haas announced his retirement from the GVSU presidency. The GVSU Board of Trustees selected Philomena Mantella as the university's next president, effective July 1, 2019.

Education

Haas graduated with honors in 1973 from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He earned two M.S. degrees, one in environmental health sciences and the other in chemistry from the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

and another M.S. degree in human resource management from

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (; RPI) is a private university, private research university in Troy, New York, United States. It is the oldest technological university in the English-speaking world and the Western Hemisphere. It was establishe ...

. He also earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from

University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university system with its main campus in Storrs, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1881 as the Storrs Agricultural School, named after two benefactors. In 1893, ...

. Haas has also had fellowship experiences that include

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

Faculty Fellow and completed executive leadership programs at

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

Military service

Haas served for over twenty years in the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...

, most of which was spent at the Coast Guard Academy as a chemistry professor and a member of the Permanent Commissioned Teaching Staff. Prior to serving at the Academy, Haas completed two years service on board the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter ''ACACIA'' homeported in

Port Huron, Michigan Port Huron is a city in and seat of government of St. Clair County, Michigan, United States. The population was 28,983 at the 2020 census. The city is bordered on the west by Port Huron Township, but the two are administered autonomously. Po ...

Sustainability and environment

On March 21, 2010, Haas was named one of the "

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

Green Leaders for 2010" by the

Detroit Free Press The ''Detroit Free Press'' (commonly referred to as the ''Freep'') is a major daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest local newspaper owned by Gannett (the publisher of ''USA Today''), and is operated by the Detro ...

, for his leadership in environmental stewardship across GVSU's campus and in the region for conservation, emissions reduction, building practices, local food advocacy and other such environmental efforts.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haas, Thomas J. Presidents of Grand Valley State University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute alumni Living people University of Connecticut alumni University of Michigan alumni 1951 births Presidents of campuses of the State University of New York