John Lynch, New Hampshire’s longest-serving governor in nearly 200 years, will begin life after politics at Dartmouth—as the inaugural Perkins Bass Distinguished Visitor at the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for the 2012-2013 academic year.
“The Rockefeller Center is very fortunate to now have the Perkins Bass Visitorship to bring policy-makers from New Hampshire to campus to engage with Dartmouth students, faculty, and staff,” says Andrew Samwick, director of the Rockefeller Center. “We are honored that Governor Lynch will be on campus this winter to help us launch this exciting new opportunity.”
The Perkins Bass Visitorship Program brings a New Hampshire citizen who has made outstanding contributions in government to share experiences with the Dartmouth community. Lynch will give a public lecture, visit classes, and meet with faculty and students throughout the year.
Lynch will give a lecture, “The State of the State Government in America: Lessons From Concord,” at 4:30 p.m. on January 29, 2013, in Rockefeller Center 003. Lynch will be introduced by Perkins Bass’ son, Charles Bass ’74, who served seven terms in the U.S. House as a representative of New Hampshire.
After graduating from Dartmouth in 1934, Perkins Bass, a Republican, served as a New Hampshire State Senator and State Representative. He was elected to four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1955 to 1963. He died on October 25, 2011, at the age of 99. Bass had been the oldest living former member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Perkins Bass was a faithful public servant of New Hampshire, and I am honored to be the inaugural Perkins Bass Distinguished Visitor at Dartmouth,” says Lynch. “I look forward to talking with the Dartmouth community about the important challenges facing our great state and nation.”
Lynch, a Democrat, has served four consecutive terms as governor of the Granite State. He did not seek re-election in 2012 and his term ends this month.
Lynch is married to Susan Lynch and the couple have three children—Jacqueline, Julia ’11, and Hayden ’16. The first lady of New Hampshire, a physician, completed her pediatric residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
“We cannot think of a more worthy recipient of the inaugural Perkins Bass Visitorship than Governor John Lynch,” says Ronald Shaiko, senior fellow and the associate director for curricular and research programs at the Rockefeller Center.
Lynch visited several classes this fall, including Shaiko’s “Introduction to Public Policy Research” course.
“Students were treated to Governor Lynch’s engaging manner and interactive teaching methods,” says Shaiko.
The Perkins Bass Visitorship Program is one half of the Perkins Bass 1934 Fund, which was established in April 2012. The other half provides funding for internships for Dartmouth students working in public affairs. During winter term, John Howard ’15 will work in the Office of U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) in Washington, D.C., with support from the Perkins Bass 1934 Fund.
