Myer Horowitz

Myer Horowitz, OC (born December 27, 1932) is a Canadian academic who served as the ninth president of the University of Alberta from 1979 to 1989.

Horowitz was born in Montreal, Quebec on December 27, 1932.[1] He attended the School for Teachers at McGill University and received his BA at Sir George Williams College in 1956.[2] He earned a Master of Education from the University of Alberta in 1959 and a Doctor of Education from Stanford University in 1965. Horowitz taught for eight years in Montreal before accepting a position as a professor in the Faculty of Education at McGill University.[2] He left McGill in 1969 to Alberta, where he accepted a position of Chair of the University of Alberta's Department of Elementary Education. He would later go on to serve various other academic positions in the University of Alberta: Dean of the Faculty of Education (1972–1975) and Vice-President (Academic) (1975–1979).[2]

Horowitz became the ninth president of the University of Alberta on August 1, 1979, succeeding Harry Gunning. He became known for his advocation for widely accessible early childhood services - something that he continued to fight for after his retirement as president in 1989, fighting against the Alberta government's decision to reduce funding for kindergartens.[2] He was succeeded as president by Paul Davenport.

He became the Professor Emeritus of Education in 1989 and President Emeritus in 1999[3] in the U of A. He moved to Victoria, British Columbia in 1998[3] and became the adjunct professor of Education at the University of Victoria. He is currently a member of the faculty involved with the University of Victoria's Centre for Youth and Society and Centre for Early Childhood Research and Policy.[2]

Horowitz was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 1990, and has received nine[3] honorary doctorate degrees. The Myer Horowitz Theatre on the University of Alberta Campus is named in his honour.[2]