Founding President George T. and Laurie Potter, Ph.D. Scholarship
The Founding President George T. Potter and Laurie Potter Ph.D. Scholarship was started in 2009. As Ramapo College’s inaugural president, George Potter played the role of academic visionary, overseeing scores of founding faculty members, construction of a brand new campus and the establishment of the academic values that now define the College.
George Potter was born in England, the son of a boatman. He earned degrees from Stanford Hall, Loughborough and Oriel College, Oxford, where he developed adult education and extension programs. He continued this work at the University of Alberta in Canada, then helped plan the new Grand Valley State College in Michigan, where he progressed to vice president for Academic Affairs. It was from this position that he took the post of president at the experimental Ramapo College of New Jersey.
From the beginning, Dr. Potter and his wife Laurie championed programs that increased access to Ramapo for women, veterans, minorities and people with disabilities. Mrs. Potter, in particular, was instrumental in making sure that persons with disabilities felt welcome at Ramapo and helped launch what is now the Office of Specialized Services. The College’s academic buildings were constructed to be accessible to persons with disabilities, well before the Americans With Disabilities Act required such measures.
At his death in 2009 friends, family and former colleagues of Dr. Potter contributed to this endowed scholarship fund. The purpose of the fund is to recognize outstanding upperclassmen registered with the Office of Specialized Services who intend to continue their education in graduate school, or are currently attending a Ramapo College Graduate program.