Thomas R. McConnell is chairman of the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the University of California at Berkeley. He received his A.M. degree from the University of Iowa in 1928 and his PhD in 1933. He also was an instructor in education at UI for one year. He was dean of the College at Cornell for five years, and later taught for several years at the University of Minnesota. From 1950 to 1954, Dr. McConnell was chancellor of the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. In 1954, he became professor of psychology at Berkeley, the position he now holds. Since 1957, he has been chairman of that institution's Center for the Study of Higher Education.
Since 1963, the University of Iowa has annually recognized accomplished alumni and friends with Distinguished Alumni Awards. Awards are presented in seven categories: Achievement, Service, Hickerson Recognition, Faculty, Staff, Recent Graduate, and Friend of the University.