Melvin A. Eggers

Melvin A. Eggers (February 21, 1916 – November 20, 1994) was the ninth Chancellor and President of Syracuse University. Eggers took office in 1971, amidst tumult at Syracuse and other university campuses, and retired in 1991. He is the third-longest serving chancellor in Syracuse history.

Eggers was born February 21, 1916, in Fort Wayne, Ind., and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in economics from Indiana University in 1940 and 1941, respectively.

After receiving his Ph.D. in economics from Yale in 1950, Eggers became an assistant professor in the economics department at Syracuse University, where he subsequently became department chair (1960) and full professor (1963).

Eggers was later appointed provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs before being appointed chancellor in 1971, when the previous chancellor, John E. Corbally, left Syracuse to lead the University of Illinois system.

Eggers took office in the midst of student demonstrations and strikes, primarily focused on ending the Vietnam War. Eggers is widely seen as having strengthened Syracuse academically over his two decades as chancellor. During his tenure, the university upgraded many of its academic programs, its enrollment increased substantially, and many new buildings were opened, including the Carrier Dome. Eggers also guided the university community through the trauma of the December 21, 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which crashed in Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 35 students who were returning from a semester of study at Syracuse's London campus.

Eggers retired as chancellor in 1991.

Eggers Hall was dedicated in his honor in October 1994; he died November 20, 1994.