Dr. John F. Piper, Jr., Dean of the College and Professor of History, in honor of his 38 years of service to Lycoming College, will be the graduation speaker at the College’s 159th Annual Commencement at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 6, 2007.

Dr. Piper joined Lycoming College from Mount Holyoke College in 1969 as an assistant professor of history, and was appointed Chairman of the History Department in 1974. In 1993 he was appointed Dean of the College, the position from which he will retire in June.

During his tenure at Lycoming, Dr. Piper has served in numerous faculty leadership roles, including reviews which culminated in the creation of the Criminal Justice Program and The American Studies Program. He served as a member of the College’s Scholars Council and was also a coach for the men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Dr. Piper has written three books, including The Spirit Movement, The American Churches in World War I, and the biography titled Robert E. Speer: Prophet of the American Church, numerous scholarly articles, and been a frequent presenter at organizations and meetings. He co-authored with Dr. Richard Morris and Dr. Robert Larson, the work, Williamsport: Frontier Village to Regional Center.

Born in Huntingdon, Pa., he completed his undergraduate education in 1958 at Lafayette College, magna cum laude. He received his bachelor of divinity from Yale Divinity School in 1961 and his Ph.D. from Duke University in 1965. A member of the national honor societies Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi, he is also an initiate of the national history honor society, Phi Alpha Theta.

In addition to his duties at the College, Dr. Piper has been involved in many community organizations including minister at several churches in the Williamsport area. He has served as President of the Central Pennsylvania United Methodist Federal Credit Union, as President of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Development Center and as a President of the Board of Trustees of the Lycoming County Historical Society.

Dr. Piper and his wife, Margaret, reside in Williamsport and are the parents of two children, John III and Kelland Ruth.