John R. Hubbard President, 1970-1980

John Randolph Hubbard, an authority on the history of British India and Indo-U.S. relations, was the eighth president of the University of Southern California.

During his tenure as president, Hubbard served a dual role as educator, conducting a weekly graduate seminar on British diplomatic history. After resigning the presidency, he served as professor of history in USC College; and he continues to conduct two seminars, "British Empire From the Mid-19th Century" and "The Era of the First World War."

Also a specialist in modern British and European history, he held the endowed John R. Hubbard Chair of British History in the College from 1980 to 1990.

As president, Hubbard worked to increase the university's academic strengths. During his first year in office, USC became a member of the Association of American Universities. During his decade of leadership, USC gained increased recognition as a research institution, rising from 33 to 19 in National Science Foundation rankings for federally sponsored research.

In 1976, Hubbard launched the Toward Century II campaign, a $265 million fund-raising program designed to prepare the university for its second century. The campaign generated more than $306 million for the university.

Under Hubbard's leadership, USC admission applications rose from 4,100 in 1970 to more than 11,000 in 1979.

Hubbard had served as USC vice president and provost for one year before succeeding Norman H. Topping as president in 1970. He came to USC after spending four years in India as chief education adviser to the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Prior to that, he was dean and professor of European history at the H. Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University, New Orleans (1958-65); dean and associate professor of European history at Newcomb (1953); visiting assistant professor of European history at Yale University (1952-53); assistant professor of European history, Tulane University (1949-52); and visiting assistant professor of British history, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (1948).

Prior to teaching, Hubbard was private secretary to the commissioner of the Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington, D.C., from 1938 to 1941.

Hubbard served for five years as a naval aviator in World War II, attaining the rank of lieutenant commander. During his tour of duty, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals.

From 1988 to 1989 he served as the U.S. ambassador to India.

A native of Belton, Texas, Hubbard earned his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history from the University of Texas in 1938, 1939 and 1950, respectively Hubband received honorary doctor of humane letters degrees from Hebrew Union College in 1971 and Westminster College in 1977, and honorary doctor of law degrees from the College of the Ozarks in 1973 and USC in 1980. In 1976, Tulane University honored Hubbard with its Distinguished Services to Higher Education Award.

USC's Student Administrative Services building on Childs Way was renamed Hubbard Hall in his honor on Sept. 25, 2003.

Hubbard is a trustee emeritus on the USC Board of Trustees and a senior adviser to the USC Emeriti Center.