David Carlton Williams
David Carlton Williams | |
|---|---|
| President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Western Ontario | |
| In office 1967 – 1977 | |
| Chancellor |
|
| Preceded by | George Edward Hall |
| Succeeded by | George Connell |
| 1st Principal of Erindale College, Toronto | |
| In office 1966 – 1968 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | John Tuzo Wilson |
| 1st Principal of Scarborough College, Toronto | |
| In office 1964 – 1965 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Wynne Plumptre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 July 1912 |
| Died | 6 April 1994[1] |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | |
| Thesis | Alienation and schooling: Toward non-institutional curriculum testing (1940) |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | University of Toronto University of Western Ontario |
David Carlton Williams (1912–1994) was a Canadian psychologist known for his research in educational psychology and as an academic administrator. He served as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Western Ontario from 1967 to 1977. Prior to that, he was instrumental in the establishment of Scarborough College and Erindale College of the University of Toronto, serving as the first principal of both campuses in the mid-1960s.
Academic career
Williams was born in Winnipeg where he attended Kelvin Technical High School. One of his classmates was Marshall McLuhan with whom he maintained a close relationship throughout his life.[2] He obtained his BSc from University of Manitoba in 1932. He then proceeded to the University of Toronto from which he obtained an MSc (1937) followed by a PhD (1940). The topic of his PhD dissertation was educational psychology and he subsequently developed expertise in educational administration.
He was appointed to the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto. In 1957 he developed a television programme on the psychology and philosophy of modern living. In the following year he was appointed Director of the University Extension service and began to move more into administration. In 1963 he was appointed vice-president of the University of Toronto and the following year he became the first principal of its Scarborough College until 1965.[3] He was then the first principal of the university's Erindale College from 1966 to 1968, where he was succeeded by John Tuzo Wilson.[4] In 1967 he was appointed president and vice-chancellor of the University of Western Ontario where he remained until his retirement in 1977.[5][6]
During the Second World War Williams served with the Canadian National Research Council and with the Royal Canadian Air Force where he was initially involved in research into personnel selection. He then became a pilot and served in the air force.[7]
Honours and awards
- President of the Canadian Psychological Association (1954–1955)[8]
- President, Metropolitan Educational Television Association, Toronto
- Chairman, Television Sub-committee of the Committee of Presidents of the Provincially Assisted Universities of Ontario[9]
- Hon LLD, University of Manitoba, 1969[10]
Legacy
- D. Carlton Williams Gold Medal in Education: awarded annually by the Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario[11]
Publications
The Arts as Communication, University of Toronto Press, 1962
References
- ^ "Williams, David Carlton". Who's Who 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ "WSC Museum 3: Carl Williams and Kelvin". McLuhan's New Sciences. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ "David Carleton Williams". University of Toronto Scarborough. Office of the Vice-President & Principal. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ Percy, John; Abbas, Sabeen (2007). Celebrating 40 Years of History at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Toronto: University of Toronto Mississauga.
- ^ "David Carlton Williams". University of Western Ontario.
- ^ "File B1986-0087 - Williams, David Carlton "Carl" (oral history)". University of Toronto. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ "Dr. D.C. Williams appointed New President of Western". UWO News. Vol. 2, no. 32. 1967. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ "Past Presidents". Canadian Psychological Association. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ "Dr. D.C. Williams appointed New President of Western". UWO News. Vol. 2, no. 32. 1967. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ "Honorary degree recipients". University of Manitoba. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ "Western's Faculty of Education Spring awards" (PDF). Western University. Retrieved 26 November 2025.