Hugo F. Sonnenschein

Hugo Freund Sonnenschein (November 14, 1940 – July 15, 2021)[1][2][3] was an American economist and educational administrator. He served as president of the University of Chicago from 1993 to 2000.

For the Austrian writer (1890–1953), see Hugo Sonnenschein.

Hugo F. Sonnenschein
Born(1940-11-14)November 14, 1940
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 15, 2021(2021-07-15) (aged 80)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Academic career
Institutions
Information at IDEAS / RePEc

Early life

Sonnenschein was born in New York City on November 14, 1940.[4][5] He was raised in Brooklyn.[6] He attended Oakwood School in Poughkeepsie, New York, graduating in 1957.[7] He studied at the University of Rochester, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in 1961. He subsequently undertook postgraduate studies at Purdue University, earning a Master of Science in 1962 and a Doctor of Philosophy two years later.[4][8]

Career

Sonnenschein was first employed as an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota from 1964 to 1970. Over the next two decades, he worked as a professor, first at the University of Massachusetts from 1970 to 1973, then at Northwestern University (1973–1976) and Princeton University (1976–1988).[6]

Sonnenschein first acted in university administration as Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania from 1988 to 1991. He proceeded to serve as Provost of Princeton University from 1991 to 1993.[6][9] As the Adam Smith Distinguished Service Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago, his specialty was microeconomic theory, with a particular interest in general equilibrium theory. He was known for the Sonnenschein–Mantel–Debreu theorem, and more generally for his work on Walrasian general equilibrium theory.[10][11] Sonnenschein later served as the 11th president of the University of Chicago from 1993 until 2000.[12][13] He remained an honorary member of the university's Board of Trustees.[14]

Sonnenschein was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2001.[15] He received the 2009 BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Economy, Finance and Management (co-winner with Andreu Mas-Colell).[16][17]

University of Chicago

During Sonnenschein's presidency at the University of Chicago which started on July 1, 1993, he increased the school's fund raising expectations, devoted many resources to the improvement of campus life and facilities, fortified the enrollment of the best students in the nation, and furthered a comprehensive plan to continue expanding the undergraduate College which had been started by the previous presidents of the school.[18] Sonnenschein's Campus Master Plan (only the fourth in the 108 year history of the school) included the construction of the Gerald Ratner Athletics Center, building a new campus for the Graduate School of Business and increasing the University library's capacity.[19] During this time, University of Chicago students took first place in 14 of 21 fields of study and second in six of the remaining seven fields of study at junior-level faculty hires in universities across states.[20]

Under Sonnenschein's leadership, the faculty made significant changes to the curriculum, including a reduction to the required number of "Core" courses in the College.[21] Some changes also included more opportunities for students to learn foreign languages and study abroad.[22] These moves had the effect of producing capital through tuition and expanding the school's network of alumni and benefactors,[23] but were also controversial.[24][25] They were criticized by students, alumni, and faculty, who regarded them as watering down the university's academic standards.[23]

In Sonnenschein's third year, the university raised $676 million dollars for the purposes of supporting student aid, facilities, and research at the end of the school's five year "Campaign for the Next Century". During Sonnenschein's tenure, the university's endowment increased from $1.2 billion to $2.9 billion, following the increased fund raising rate in the president's last five years.[26]

Personal life

Sonnenschein married Elizabeth Gunn Sonnenschein in 1962. They met during his freshman year at Rochester and remained married until his death.[6] Together, they had three children: Leah, Amy, and Rachel.[9][23]

Sonnenschein died on July 15, 2021, at the University of Chicago Medical Center in Hyde Park, Chicago. He was 80 years old.[9][23]

References
  1. Who's who in the Midwest: A Biographical Dictionary of Noteworthy Men and Women of the Central and Midwestern States
  2. "Economics" (PDF).
  3. "Hugo Sonnenschein". University of Chicago. July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  4. Reports of the President and the Treasurer. John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. 1976. p. 102.
  5. The University of Chicago Magazine. Vol. 85. University of Chicago. 1992. p. 16. ISSN 0041-9508.
  6. "Hugo Sonnenschein, 11th president of the University of Chicago, 1940–2021". University of Chicago. July 17, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  7. Oak Leaves Alumni Publication, 2007
  8. "HUGO F. SONNENSCHEIN CV" (PDF). University of Chicago. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
  9. "UChicago mourns loss of former President Hugo Sonnenschein". University of Chicago. July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  10. Rizvi, S. Abu Turab (2006). "The Sonnenschein-Mantel-Debreu Results after Thirty Years" (PDF). History of Political Economy. Duke University Press. 38: 228–245. doi:10.1215/00182702-2005-024.
  11. Sonnenschein, Hugo (1973). "Do Walras' Identity and Continuity Characterize the Class of Community Excess Demand Functions?". Journal of Economic Theory. Elsevier. 6 (4): 345–354. doi:10.1016/0022-0531(73)90066-5.
  12. "History of the Office". The University of Chicago News Office. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
  13. "Hugo Sonnenschein (1993–2000)". University of Chicago. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
  14. "Hugo F. Sonnenschein Biographical Sketch" (PDF). University of Chicago. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
  15. "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  16. "Mas-Colell and Sonnenschein win the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Economics, Finance and Management for helping to "interpret consumer behavior"". BBVA Foundation. February 25, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  17. "Frontiers of Knowledge Award". University of Edinburgh. March 4, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  18. "Hugo Sonnenschein 1993–2000". University of Chicago. June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  19. "Hugo Sonnenschein 1993–2000". University of Chicago. June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  20. "Hugo Sonnenschein 1993–2000". University of Chicago. June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  21. Menashi, Steven (January 13, 1999). "Doing it the Chicago Way". The Dartmouth Review. Archived from the original on August 26, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
  22. "Hugo Sonnenschein 1993–2000". University of Chicago. June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  23. O'Donnell, Maureen (July 15, 2021). "Hugh Sonnenschein, controversial former University of Chicago president, dead at 80". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  24. Meyer, Meredith (October 31, 2004). "Gradual changes define the University". Chicago Maroon. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
  25. "IT'S 'PROFESSOR SONNENSCHEIN' AGAIN". Rochester Review. University of Rochester. Fall 2000. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
  26. "Hugo Sonnenschein 1993–2000". University of Chicago. June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
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