When
You're invited to a special engagement
We're celebrating the launch of former University of Arizona president John P. Schaefer's new memoir, A Chance to Make a Difference.
Event details
- Free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Register now.
- Copies of A Chance to Make a Difference will be available for purchase at the event.
- Schaefer will discuss his work and share stories from his fascinating life.
- A book signing and reception will follow Schaefer's talk.
The event is sponsored by The University of Arizona Press and University Libraries Special Collections.
About the book
A Chance to Make a Difference recounts poignant, eye-opening, and often humorous stories from childhood to presidency, revealing the characteristics of an inspiring university leader. John P. Schaefer was only 36-years-old when he assumed the role of fifteenth president of the University of Arizona in 1971. The son of hardworking German immigrants, Schaefer grew up in Queens, New York, where childhood centered on sports, academics, and the great outdoors.
Earning a PhD in chemistry in 1958, Schaefer’s career skyrocketed through the ranks of academia, moving him from junior faculty to university president in a mere decade. As president, he led the University of Arizona through a transformational period of growth and is credited with securing the university’s status as a top-tier research institution.
About the author
John P. Schaefer is president emeritus of the University of Arizona, where he had an active twenty-one-year career in teaching and research. A conservationist and avid birdwatcher, he helped organize the Tucson Audubon Society and found the Nature Conservancy in Arizona.
In addition to his academic and conservation work, Schaefer is a skilled photographer. He is the author of several books on photography, including Desert Jewels: Cactus Flowers of the Southwest and Mexico. He and Ansel Adams founded the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in 1975.